Osteoporotic compression fractures can result in progressive kyphosis and chronic pain. Traditional treatment for these patients includes bed rest, analgesics, and bracing. Augmentation of vertebral compression fractures with polymethylmethacrylate, "vertebroplasty," has been used to treat pain. This technique, however, makes no attempt to restore the height of the collapsed vertebral body. Kyphoplasty is a new technique that involves the introduction of inflatable bone tamps into the vertebral body. Once inflated, the bone tamps restore the vertebral body back toward its original height while creating a cavity that can be filled with bone cement.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of inflatable bone tamp reduction and cement augmentation, "kyphoplasty," in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
Study Design: An Institutional Review Board-approved Phase I efficacy study of inflatable bone tamp usage in the treatment of symptomatic osteoporotic compression fractures.
Patients and Methods:
The inflatable bone tamp was efficacious in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Kyphoplasty is associated with early clinical improvement of pain and function as well as restoration of vertebral body height in the treatment of painful osteoporotic compression fractures.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
Osteoporotic compression fractures can result in progressive kyphosis and chronic pain. Traditional treatment for these patients includes bed rest, analgesics, and bracing. Augmentation of vertebral compression fractures with polymethylmethacrylate, "vertebroplasty," has been used to treat pain. This technique, however, makes no attempt to restore the height of the collapsed vertebral body. Kyphoplasty is a new technique that involves the introduction of inflatable bone tamps into the vertebral body. Once inflated, the bone tamps restore the vertebral body back toward its original height while creating a cavity that can be filled with bone cement.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of inflatable bone tamp reduction and cement augmentation, "kyphoplasty," in the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.
Study Design: An Institutional Review Board-approved Phase I efficacy study of inflatable bone tamp usage in the treatment of symptomatic osteoporotic compression fractures.
Patients and Methods:
The inflatable bone tamp was efficacious in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Kyphoplasty is associated with early clinical improvement of pain and function as well as restoration of vertebral body height in the treatment of painful osteoporotic compression fractures.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.