ABSTRACT
Objective:To compare the efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic lumbar compression fracture (OLCF) via the approach through midpoint transverse process-transition zone of articular process and the unilateral transpedicular approach.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 794 patients with OLCF treated in Honghui Hospital affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2017 to December 2019. The patients were divided into transitional-zone puncture group (400 patients, 400 vertebrae) and pedicle puncture group (394 patients, 394 vertebrae) according to the envelope method. The transitional-zone puncture group was treated with PVP via the approach through midpoint transverse process-transition zone of articular process, and the pedicle puncture group was treated with PVP via the unilateral transpedicular approach. The operation time and radiation dose were documented. The visual analogue score (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were evaluated before operation and at 1 day, 3 months, 1 year after operation. The cement distribution and the incidence of complications such as cement leakage, re-fracture of the injured vertebra, spinal cord nerve injury and facet joint injury were detected.Results:The patients were composed of 270 males and 524 females, at the age of 68.9-78.5 years [(73.7±4.8)years]. All patients were followed up for 12-14 months [(13.4±0.8)months]. The operation time and radiation dose in transitional-zone puncture group were reduced compared with pedicle puncture group ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in VAS and ODI between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). The VAS between transitional-zone puncture group [(2.1±0.9)points, (2.3±1.1)points, (2.7±1.3)points] and pedicle puncture group [(2.3±0.7)points, (2.5±0.9)points, (2.9±1.1)points] was obviously reduced from that before operation (all P<0.01), significantly different at 1 day, 3 months, 1 year after operation ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The ODI between transitional-zone puncture group (14.3±1.8, 13.6±3.4, 11.3±4.4) and pedicle puncture group (25.5±5.7, 20.7±6.3, 20.6±6.9) was significantly different at 1 day, 3 months, 1 year after operation (all P<0.01), and all were obviously reduced from that before operation (all P<0.01). With regard to the cement distribution, the number of bilaterally cemented vertebrae in transitional-zone puncture group (324) was more than that in pedicle puncture group (94) ( P<0.01). The incidence of cement leakage, re-fracture of the injured vertebra and facet joint injury was 8.25%(22/400), 0.00%(0/400) and 3.25%(13/400) in transitional-zone puncture group, significantly different from 20.81%(82/394), 2.03%(8/394) and 9.90%(39/394) in pedicle puncture group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There was no significant difference in spinal cord nerve injury between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:For OLCF, PVP via the approach through the midpoint transverse process-transition zone of articular process and the unilateral transpedicular approach are both effective, but the former has advantages of shorter operation time, smaller radiation dose, greater dispersion of bone cement and lower incidence of cement leakage, re-fracture of the injured vertebra and facet joint injury.