Percutaneous kyphoplasty with or without posterior pedicle screw fixation for the management of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with nonunion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the radiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with and without posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (sOVCF) with nonunion. METHODS: This study involved 51 patients with sOVCF with nonunion who underwent PKP or PPSF + KP. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, volume of injected bone cement, operation costs and hospital stays were all recorded. In addition, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed separately for each patient before and after surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the PPSF + KP group, the PKP group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer operation costs. However, cobb's angle improvement (13.4 ± 4.3° vs. 21.4 ± 5.3°), VWR improvement ratio (30.4 ± 11.5% vs. 52.8 ± 12.7%), HA (34.9 ± 9.0% vs. 63.7 ± 7.6%) and HM (28.4 ± 11.2% vs. 49.6 ± 7.7%) improvement ratio were all higher in PPSF + KP group than that in PKP group. In addition, the ODI index and VAS score in both groups were significantly decreased at the postoperative and final follow-up. PKP group's postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than that in PPSF + KP group, but there was no statistically significant difference in VAS score at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: PKP and PPSF + KP can both effectively relieve the pain associated with sOVCF with nonunion. PPSF + KP can achieve more satisfactory vertebral reduction effects compared to PKP. However, PKP was less invasive and it has more advantages in shortening operation time and hospital stay, as well as decreasing intraoperative blood loss and operation costs.

Complex clinical encounter series: osteoporosis presenting during pregnancy and lactation: wait and reassess.

Two months after her first pregnancy, a 35-yr-old exclusively breastfeeding woman bent to move her baby in the car seat and experienced sudden, severe pain from 5 spontaneous vertebral compression fractures. Genomic screen was negative but she had mild ankylosing spondylitis previously well controlled on etanercept. She was vegetarian with a high phytate intake. A lactation consultant had advised her to pump and discard milk between feeds, leading her to believe she produced twice as much milk as her baby ingested. She presented with a LS Z score of -3.6 and a TH Z score of -1.6. After 6 mo postweaning, she was treated with teriparatide (14 mo intermittently over 18 mo) and ultimately achieved a 50% increase in LS bone density and an 8% increase in TH bone density. Her fragility is explained by normal lactational bone loss amplified by excessive milk production and phytate-induced impairment of intestinal calcium absorption, ankylosing spondylitis, and the bend-and-lift maneuver. The marked increase in bone density resulted from the combined effects of spontaneous recovery and pharmacotherapy. Spontaneous recovery of bone mass and strength should occur during 12 mo after weaning in all women, including those who have fractured.

Association between pharmacotherapy and secondary vertebral fracture managed with a brace in a real-world setting: A nationwide database study in Japan.

AIM: This retrospective cohort study assessed the association between the incidence of secondary vertebral fracture managed with a brace (SVF) and pharmacotherapy. METHODS: The association between the incidence of SVF and the presence, type, and medication possession ratio (MPR) of pharmacotherapy was investigated using medical insurance data acquired from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. RESULTS: The data of female patients (n = 637 303) were analyzed. The 2-year incidence of SVF was 73.5 per 10 000 patients (n = 4687). Approximately 0.73% of patients without medications and 0.74% with medications had SVF. Patients taking bisphosphonates (0.87), denosumab (0.77), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (0.88) had significantly lower standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) than patients not taking medications after the occurrence of primary fracture; meanwhile, patients taking parathyroid hormone medications had considerably higher SIRs than those not taking medications. The non-SVF group (59.1%) had a significantly higher mean MPR than the SVF group (55.5%). Patients taking denosumab in the non-SVF group (68.2%) had the highest mean MPR. The proportion of patients taking denosumab with an MPR of ≥80% in the non-SVF group was significantly higher than that in the SVF group. CONCLUSION: Patients taking medications were at a lower risk of developing SVF than those not taking medications. Although this study did not compare the medications' SVF prevention effects, patients taking denosumab had a 0.77 SIR of SVF in Japan. The effect of pharmacotherapy on SVF prevention might be affected by the MPR of each medication. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 390-397.

The Safety and Efficacy of Abaloparatide on Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aging of the population increases the incidence of postmenopausal osteoporosis, which threatens the health of elderly women. Abaloparatide is a synthetic peptide analogue of the human parathyroid hormone-related protein that has recently been approved for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Its efficacy and safety have not been systematically evaluated. Therefore, studies on the efficacy and safety of abaloparatide could be of assistance in the clinical medication of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of abaloparatide in postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were electronically searched from inception to July 6, 2023, for relevant randomized controlled trials. Two review authors independently conducted the study screening, quality assessment (based on the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool recommended in the Cochrane handbook), and data extraction. Outcome measures included bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover and metabolic markers, incidence of fractures, and adverse events. Data analyses were processed by using Stata SE15. FINDINGS: Ultimately, 8 randomized controlled trials, involving a total of 3705 postmenopausal women, were included. Meta-analysis showed that abaloparatide administration significantly increased the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae (standardized mean difference [SMD], 1.28 [95% CI, 0.81-1.76); I2 = 78.5%]), femoral neck (SMD, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.17-1.23; I2 = 75.7%]), and hip bone (SMD, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.53-1.20; I2 = 60.4%]) in postmenopausal women compared with the control group. Type I procollagen N-terminal propeptide, a bone formation marker, was also elevated after abaloparatide administration. The incidence of vertebral fracture was lower in the abaloparatide group than in the control group (risk ratio, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.26; I2 = 0%). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the abaloparatide and the placebo groups (risk ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.99-1.06; I2 = 0%). IMPLICATIONS: Abaloparatide has a protective effect on women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. It could reduce their risk for vertebral fracture; increase their BMD of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and hip; and alleviate symptoms and complications of postmenopausal osteoporosis with considerable safety. Limitations of this study include not searching the gray literature and not performing a subgroup analysis. PROSPERO Registration No.: CRD42022370944.

Clinical effects of cocktail injection on the thoracolumbar fascia injury during percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a single-center, retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, there is a lack of effective intraoperative treatment for thoracolumbar fascia injury (TFI) of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), which may lead to postoperative residual pain. We aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of cocktail injection on the TFI during percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for OVCFs. METHODS: A retrospective study of OVCFs with TFI underwent PVP with cocktail injection (Cocktail group, 58 cases) or PVP (Routine group, 64 cases) was conducted. The surgical outcomes, visual analog scale (VAS) score, oswestry disability index (ODI), incidence of residual pain at 1 day and 7 days postoperatively, the rate and duration of taking painkillers during 7 days postoperatively after PVP were compared between them. RESULTS: No differences in baseline data, volume of bone cement injected and bone cement leakage were observed between the two groups, while the operation time of the routine group (44.3 ± 7.8 min) was less than that (47.5 ± 9.1 min) of the cocktail group (P < 0.05). However, the VAS scores (2.4 ± 0.8, 2.2 ± 0.7), ODI (25.2 ± 4.2, 22.3 ± 2.9), the incidence of residual pain (8.6%, 3.4%) at 1 and 7 days postoperatively, the rate (6.9%) and duration ( 2.5 ± 0.6 ) of taking painkillers during 7 days postoperatively in the cocktail group were better than those (3.4 ± 1.0, 2.9 ± 0.7, 34.1 ± 4.7, 28.6 ± 3.6, 23.4%, 15.6%, 28.1%, 4.2 ± 1.4) in the routine group (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: PVP combined with cocktail injection increased the operation time in the treatment of OVCFs with TFI, but it can more effectively relieve pain, reduce the risk of residual pain at 1 day and 7 days postoperatively, and decrease the use and duration of taking painkillers.

[Application value of bone cement containing rhbFGF and RHBMP-2 in PKP treatment of osteoporotic lumbar compression fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bone cement containing recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rhbFGF) and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF). METHODS: A total of 103 OVCF patients who underwent PKP from January 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 40 males and 63 females, aged from 61 to 78 years old with an average of (65.72±3.29) years old. The injury mechanism included slipping 33 patients, falling 42 patients, and lifting injury 28 patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to the filling of bone cement. Calcium phosphate consisted of 34 patients, aged(65.1±3.3) years old, 14 males and 20 females, who were filled with calcium phosphate bone cement. rhBMP-2 consisted of 34 patients, aged (64.8±3.2) years old, 12 males and 22 females, who were filled with bone cement containing rhBMP-2. And rhbFGF+rhBMP-2 consisted of 35 patients, aged (65.1±3.6) years old, 14 males and 21 females, who were filled with bone cement containing rhbFGF and rhBMP-2. Oswestry disability index (ODI), bone mineral density, anterior edge loss height, anterior edge compression rate of injured vertebra, visual analog scale (VAS) of pain, and the incidence of refracture were compared between groups. RESULTS: All patients were followed for 12 months. Postoperative ODI and VAS score of the three groups decreased (P<0.001), while bone mineral density increased (P<0.001), anterior edge loss height, anterior edge compression rate of injured vertebra decreased first and then slowly increased (P<0.001). ODI and VAS of group calcium phosphate after 1 months, 6 months, 12 months were lower than that of rhBMP-2 and group rhbFGF+rhBMP-2(P<0.05), bone mineral density after 6 months, 12 months was higher than that of rhBMP-2 and group calcium phosphate(P<0.05), and anterior edge loss height, anterior edge compression rate of injured vertebra of group rhbFGF+rhBMP-2 after 6 months and 12 months were lower than that of group rhBMP-2 and group calcium phosphate(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of re-fracture among the three groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Bone cement containing rhbFGF and rhBMP-2 could more effectively increase bone mineral density in patients with OVCF, obtain satisfactory clinical and radiological effects after operation, and significantly improve clinical symptoms.

Bone loss and new vertebral fractures during treatment with romosozumab: a case-report.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to illustrate the possibility of an unfavorable response to treatment with the anabolic agent romosozumab for patients with severe osteoporosis and to discuss explanations for treatment failure. METHODS: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) including vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) and X-rays of the thoracolumbar spine was used to assess bone mineral density (BMD) and the presence of vertebral fractures before and after treatment with romosozumab. RESULTS: Our patient developed a decrease in the BMD of the hip, two incident new vertebral fractures, and worsening of one prevalent vertebral fracture during 1 year treatment with romosozumab. We have not detected non-adherence, there was no pretreatment with anti-resorptives, and we observed no signs of secondary osteoporosis and/or comorbidities. CONCLUSION: As the number of patients treated with romosozumab is rising, it becomes more likely that more patients will be found with new fractures and/or an unfavorable BMD response. Probably, the unfavorable response is a (bad) chance finding, but we think it is crucial for clinicians and patients to exclude nonadherence, new comorbidities and pretreatment with anti-resorptives as explanation in these patients.

Comparison of radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

Teriparatide and denosumab, anti-osteoporosis medications with different mechanisms, have been widely used in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) considered as advanced osteoporosis. Teriparatide has been shown to enhance bone formation and fracture healing in OVF, but there are still no sufficient evidences discussing about the role of denosumab in newly developed OVF. In this study, we found the similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar (TL) OVF, and teriparatide showed a more frequent incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation compared to denosumab. INTRODUCTION: Teriparatide and denosumab have been widely used to treat advanced osteoporosis and prevent subsequent fractures in patients with OVCF. Unlike teriparatide, which is considered to be effective in fracture healing, there is still no clear role and evidence for the effect of denosumab in acute OVCF. This study compared the radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in TL-OVF. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 78 women with mean age of 74.69 ± 7.66 (60-92) years diagnosed as a TL-OVF with no neurological deficits. All patients were treated conservatively with teriparatide (34 of group T, once-daily 20 µg) or denosumab (44 of group D, once-6 months 60 mg) for 6 months. We evaluated the radiological deformation (kyphotic angle, segmental vertebral kyphotic angle, and compression ratio) and the incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation (FUPB) and functional outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 0, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In the radiological deformation and functional outcomes, there were no significant differences at 0, 3, and 6 months between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the incidence of FUPB at 6 months was higher in group T (20/34, 58.8%) compared to group D (11/44, 25.0%) (P = 0.004), and teriparatide was the most statistically significant factor for achieving FUPB (OR 4.486, P = 0.012) in multivariable logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Teriparatide and denosumab, despite of their different pharmacological mechanisms, showed similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes in the conservative treatment of TL-OVF. However, teriparatide showed a significantly higher incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation.

Robot-assisted percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture treatment and risk factor screening for postoperative refracture.

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is a serious complication of osteoporosis, and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a major therapeutic method for OVCF. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and postoperative complications of robot-assisted targeted PVP for the treatment of OVCF. The data from 202 OVCF patients were analyzed in this study, including 72 cases received traditional PVP (PVP group), 68 cases received robot-assisted PVP (R-PVP group), and 62 cases underwent robot-assisted PVP combined with targeted plugging (R-PVP + TP group). The fluoroscopic exposure conditions, operative duration, lengths of stay, postoperative bone cement leakage, refracture, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score were obtained and compared between the three groups. The Kaplan-Meier method and logistic regression model were adopted to screen the risk factors related with postoperative refracture. R-PVP and R-PVP + TP group had significantly reduced fluoroscopic frequency and radiation dose, and reduced cement leakage compared with PVP group. R-PVP + TP not only showed more obvious advantages in these aspects, but also had a lower probability of postoperative refracture. In addition, BMD, fracture vertebral distribution, cement leakage, and surgery methods were independent related with refracture. All the results demonstrated robot assistance could improve the application of PVP in the treatment of OVCF, and robot-assisted PVP combined with targeted plugging showed significantly reduced fluoroscopic exposure, bone cement leakage, and rate of postoperative refracture. BMD, fracture vertebral distribution, cement leakage, and operation methods were identified as four risk factors for the onset of refracture after PVP.

Growth hormone and testosterone delay vertebral fractures in boys with muscular dystrophy on chronic glucocorticoids.

Glucocorticoid use in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy prolongs ambulation but cause significant skeletal toxicity. Our analysis has immediate clinical implications, suggesting that growth hormone and testosterone have a stronger effect prior to first and subsequent vertebral fracture, respectively, relative to bisphosphonates alone in children with dystrophinopathies on chronic glucocorticoids. PURPOSE: Glucocorticoids prolong ambulation in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy; however, they have significant endocrine side effects. We assessed the impact of growth hormone (GH), testosterone, and/or zoledronic acid (ZA) on vertebral fracture (VF) incidence in patients with dystrophinopathies on chronic glucocorticoids. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal retrospective review of 27 males with muscular dystrophy. Accelerated failure time (AFT) models were used to estimate the relative time to VF while on GH, testosterone, and/or ZA compared to ZA alone. Results are reported as failure time ratio, where >1 indicates prolonged time versus <1 indicates shorter time to next VF. RESULTS: The prevalence of growth impairment was 96% (52% utilized GH), pubertal delay was 86% (72% utilized testosterone), and low trauma fractures were 87% (72% utilized ZA). Multivariable analysis of the AFT models showed that participants on either GH or testosterone treatment relative to ZA alone experienced prolonged time to next VF (1.253, P<0.001), with GH being the significant contributor when analyzed independently from testosterone (1.229, P<0.001). Use of ZA with GH or testosterone relative to ZA alone resulted in prolonged time to next VF (1.171, P<0.001), with testosterone being a significant contributor (1.130, P=0.033). CONCLUSION: GH and testosterone each decreased VF risk in patients independent of or in combination with ZA, respectively.

PLS3 Mutations in X-Linked Osteoporosis: Clinical and Genetic Features in Five New Families.

Childhood-onset osteoporosis is a rare but clinically significant condition. Studies have shown pathogenic variants in more than 20 different genes as causative for childhood-onset primary osteoporosis. The X-chromosomal PLS3, encoding Plastin-3, is one of the more recently identified genes. In this study, we describe five new families from four different European countries with PLS3-related skeletal fragility. The index cases were all hemizygous males presenting with long bone and vertebral body compression fractures. All patients had low lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD). The age at the first clinical fracture ranged from 1.5 to 13 years old. Three of the identified PLS3 variants were stop-gain variants and two were deletions involving either a part or all exons of the gene. In four families the variant was inherited from the mother. All heterozygous women reported here had normal BMD and no bone fractures. Four patients received bisphosphonate treatment with good results, showing a lumbar spine BMD increment and vertebral body reshaping after 10 months to 2 years of treatment. Our findings expand the genetic spectrum of PLS3-related osteoporosis. Our report also shows that early treatment with bisphosphonates may influence the disease course and reduce the progression of osteoporosis, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis for prompt intervention and appropriate genetic counseling.

Comparison of clinical and radiological outcomes of vertebral body stenting versus percutaneous kyphoplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and vertebral body stenting (VBS) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and evaluate the clinical efficacy, Cobb angle correction, and cement leakage associated with both methods for OVCFs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Medline, China National Knowledge, and Wanfang Data for clinical studies comparing VBS with PKP for OVCF up to May 2023. The meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3, with a focus on evaluating clinical and radiologic outcomes. RESULTS: A total of eight eligible clinical studies were included in this meta-analysis. In terms of clinical outcomes, VBS was found to have a longer surgical time compared to PKP (standard mean difference [SMD]=1.06 min; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.20, 1.92; p=0.02). However, VBS demonstrated comparable blood loss to PKP (SMD =0.00 mL; 95% CI: -0.45, 0.45; p=0.99). Additionally, VBS showed slight superiority in alleviating back pain as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (SMD=-0.38; 95% CI: -0.63, -0.12; p=0.004), as well as in improving functional disability based on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) (SMD= -0.28; 95% CI: -0.54, -0.03; p=0.03). Radiographically, VBS achieved better Cobb angle correction compared to PKP (SMD= -1.00; 95% CI: -1.48, -0.51; p<0.0001), while there was no significant difference in cement leakage between VBS and PKP (odds ratio=0.81; 95% CI: 0.21, 3.14; p=0.76). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that VBS has a comparable clinical outcome to PKP based on operation time, intraoperative blood loss, VAS, and ODI. Furthermore, VBS showed slightly better maintenance of Cobb angle correction, whereas VBS did not demonstrate a significant advantage over PKP in terms of cement leakage.

Optimizing percutaneous vertebroplasty: extra-facet puncture for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of the extra-facet puncture technique applied in unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treating osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: Demographics (age, gender, body mass index and underlying diseases) were recorded for analyzing. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores as well as their corresponding minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes. The segmental kyphotic angle, the vertebral compression ratio and bone cement distribution pattern were evaluated by the plain radiographs. The facet joint violation (FJV) was defined by the postoperative computed tomography scan. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate relationships between multiple risk factors and residual back pain. RESULTS: VAS and ODI scores in both traditional puncture group and extra-facet puncture group were significantly decreased after PVP surgery (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between the two groups according to VAS and ODI scores. The proportion of patients achieving MCID of VAS and ODI scores was higher in extra-facet puncture group as compared to traditional puncture group within a month (p < 0.05). Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FJV (odds ratio 16.38, p < 0.001) and unilateral bone cement distribution (OR 5.576, p = 0.020) were significant predictors of residual back pain after PVP surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Extra-facet puncture percutaneous vertebroplasty can decrease the risk of FJV and it also has the advantage of more satisfied bone cement distribution.

Unilaterally extrapedicular versus transpedicular kyphoplasty in treating osteoporotic lumbar fractures: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The unilaterally extrapedicular approach is adopted increasingly to perform balloon kyphoplasty in treating osteoporotic lumbar fractures, which is intended to improve radiological and clinical efficacy. We compared the efficacy and safety of this method with a unilaterally transpedicular approach. METHODS: We conducted a single-center, randomized controlled trial enrolling participants with a one-level osteoporotic lumbar fracture in less than 1 month. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo kyphoplasty via either a unilaterally extrapedicular approach (treatment group) or a unilaterally transpedicular approach (control group). The primary outcome was the difference in change from baseline to 1 month in visual analog scale (VAS) scores between the two groups. Secondary outcome measures included vertebral height ratio, operation time, fluoroscopic times, hemoglobin loss, and cement leakage between groups. Data were analyzed by intention to treat principle. RESULTS: A total of 80 participants were assigned to the treatment group (n = 40) and control group (n = 40), with three and two patients lost to follow-up during 12 months in the two groups, respectively. At 1 month postoperatively, the treatment group showed a greater reduction in VAS score from baseline, compared with the control group (mean difference between groups = 0.63, 95%CI 0.19-1.06). There were no significant between-group differences in restoration in anterior, middle, and posterior vertebral body (P > 0.05). No significant differences were found in the rate of cement leakage and perioperative hemoglobin loss (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with balloon kyphoplasty via the unilaterally transpedicular approach in treating lumbar OVCFs, the unilaterally extrapedicular approach appears to be promising in achieving effective pain relief, adequate cement infusion, short operation time, less fluoroscopy exposure, and comparable risk of cement leakage and vessel injury. It is an alternative approach for lumbar OVCFs treated with kyphoplasty.

Response of vertebral fractures to treatment with denosumab in a patient with postpartum osteoporosis: a case report and literature review.

Postpartum osteoporosis (PO) is a rare condition characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and an increased risk of vertebral fragility fracture. We encountered a 34-year-old woman who developed back pain 1 week after delivery. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine revealed three vertebral compression fractures. Pretreatment BMD evaluation by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry revealed a low T-score and Z-score (-2.0 and -2.0, respectively; BMD, 0.876 g/cm2) in the affected region of the spine. The patient was diagnosed with PO and treated with subcutaneous injection of denosumab 60 mg (Prolia; Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) every 6 months. After two treatments, the BMD had significantly increased and the back pain was improved; the patient therefore decided to terminate the treatment. Two months later, her back pain worsened and BMD decreased as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry examination of the lumbar spine. Therefore, the patient resumed treatment with denosumab, and the BMD of the lumbar spine increased after another two treatments. Therefore, we consider denosumab to be promising in the management of PO with respect to increased BMD and decreased pain.

Risk Factors for New Vertebral Compression Fracture After Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND Percutaneous vertebral augmentation is the mainstream treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). New vertebral compression fracture (NVCF) after percutaneous vertebral augmentation may be an issue that cannot be ignored. Nevertheless, the risk factors for NVCF are still uncertain. This research aimed to study the risk factors for NVCF after percutaneous vertebral augmentation. MATERIAL AND METHODS All patients who underwent percutaneous vertebral augmentation for OVCF from January 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled in the study. These patients were divided into NVCF and control groups according to whether they had NVCF. The covariates including sex, age, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol, fracture level, surgical method, cement leakage, cement volume, preoperative anterior vertebral height ratio, and Hounsfield unit (HU) value were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors. RESULTS A total of 279 patients were included in this study, of which 47 had NVCF after percutaneous vertebral augmentation. Univariate analysis demonstrated that there were significant differences in age (OR=1.040, 95% CI=1.003-1.078, P=0.033), BMI (OR=0.844, 95% CI=0.758-0.939, P=0.002) and HU value (OR=0.945, 95% CI=0.929-0.962, P<0.001) between the 2 groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that HU value (OR=0.942, 95% CI=0.924-0.960, P<0.001) were independent risk factor for NVCF after percutaneous vertebral augmentation. CONCLUSIONS Hounsfield unit value was an independent risk factor for new vertebral compression fracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation, whereas age and BMI were not.

Effectiveness of Teriparatide for Spine Fusion in Osteoporotic Patient: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Comparative Studies.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess teriparatide's (TP) effectiveness in improving radiographic and functional outcomes after spinal fusion surgery. This meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and comparative cohort studies. The findings provide valuable insights and guidance for surgeons treating osteoporotic patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to assess TP's efficacy in spinal fusion surgery for osteoporosis. Through thorough selection, data extraction, and quality assessment, we employed network meta-analysis to evaluate radiographic outcomes (fusion rate, screw loosening, vertebral fracture) and changes in bone mineral density measured by Hounsfield units. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index scales. Our study aims to comprehensively understand TP's impact and effectiveness in spinal fusion surgery. RESULTS: A total of 868 patients were included in the analysis. All patients underwent thoracolumbar internal fixation fusion surgery and were divided into following 2 groups: the TP treatment group and the control group. The results revealed significant differences in radiological outcomes. The fusion rate showed a significant difference, as well as screw loosening, and bone mineral density measured in Hounsfield units. However, there was no significant difference in vertebral fracture. The TP group demonstrated favorable effects with statistical significance. In terms of functional outcomes, there was no significant difference in the assessment of Oswestry Disability Index scores between the 2 treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The meta-analysis demonstrated that the TP group exhibited significantly better outcomes, particularly in radiological measures, when compared to the control group. The use of TP in spinal fusion surgery shows promise in reducing postoperative complications and providing overall benefits.

Effectiveness of fracture liaison services in osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND: In response to the gradual decline in the number of prescriptions for anti-osteoporosis medication (AOM) following fragility fractures, fracture liaison services (FLSs) have been set up around the world with the aim of filling this treatment gap. Several studies have already reported the benefits of such organizations, particularly in reducing fracture risk, mortality rates and healthcare costs, and literature on FLSs has increased at a steady pace over time. METHODS: A narrative review was conducted on the latest available findings on the effectiveness of FLSs. Various approaches to implementing an effective FLS program are discussed. RESULTS: FLS programs have enhanced the management of osteoporosis-related fractures. However, several studies have highlighted that not all FLSs are necessarily effective in reducing subsequent fracture risk and mortality. Long-term AOM persistence and monitoring are another critical issue in FLS programs. A few studies have reported that FLSs are associated with an improvement in AOM persistence, regardless of the type of AOM. Practitioners in the FLS setting need to be aware of the impact of recency of fracture and fracture recurrence rates, and the need for timely interventions. The administration of zoledronic acid in an in-patient setting may improve AOM treatment rates in patients, who often encounter obstacles to outpatient follow-up. Introducing 'vertebral fracture identification services' in FLS programs is also an option. However, doing so leads to an increase in workload and this would need to be considered by any FLS that is considering introducing such a service. Evidence suggests that digital technologies can support (i) multidisciplinary teams in providing the best possible patient care based on current evidence, and (ii) patient self-management. However, as the methodological quality of many of the studies evaluating these technologies was poor, their validity of their results is limited. CONCLUSION: Further research should focus on the optimal implementation of post-fracture care using automated systems, and standardized reporting of patient's characteristics and outcome measures using key performance indicators.

New Research Progress of Modified Bone Cement Applied to Vertebroplasty.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty are effective methods to treat acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures that can quickly provide patients with pain relief, prevent further height loss of the vertebral body, and help correct kyphosis. Many clinical studies have investigated the characteristics of bone cement. Bone cement is a biomaterial injected into the vertebral body that must have good biocompatibility and biosafety. The optimization of the characteristics of bone cement has become of great interest. Bone cement can be mainly divided into 3 types: polymethyl methacrylate, calcium phosphate cement, and calcium sulfate cement. Each type of cement has its own advantages and disadvantages. In the past 10 years, the performance of bone cement has been greatly improved via different methods. The aim of our review is to provide an overview of the current progress in the types of modified bone cement and summarize the key clinical findings.