Why Kyphoplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures?

Background Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) are frequent reasons behind painful, spinal deformity, and low-quality of life among the aged. Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (KP) is a minimally invasive procedure aimed at stabilizing fractured vertebrae, regaining vertebral height, and correcting kyphotic deformity. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiological and functional outcome of unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty in patients with OVCFs that are not responding to conservative therapy. Methods This retrospective case study was conducted on 32 adult patients with vertebral compression fracture as a result of osteoporosis who received percutaneous kyphoplasty in the Department of Neurosurgery, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Turkey, between 2022 and 2024. Radiological evaluation was conducted before surgery, in the 24 hours after surgery and 1 month after surgery. The heights of anterior, middle, and posterior vertebral bodies and kyphosis angles were measured on the lateral radiographs using Cobb method. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain was used as a measure of functional outcomes. Paired statistical tests were conducted to statistically compare pre and postoperative values and the significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The sample population was a group of 24 females (75% of the total population) and 8 males (25% of the total population) with the mean age of the sample population equal to 63.09 years. The number of kyphoplasties carried out was 36. The mean VAS pain scores reduced significantly by the 8.56 at preoperative stage to 5.83 in the early postoperative stage and further to 0.63 at 1 month postoperative, which is a 92.64% pain reduction. Anterior and middle height of vertebral bodies was significantly better after operation and there was no significant change of the height of the posterior walls. Mean kyphosis angle dropped to 10.73 owing to surgery as compared to 18.44 owing to surgery, and was maintained at 1 month. No significant complications such as cement leakage, pulmonary embolism or neurological deficit were observed. Conclusions Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty is safe and effective, minimally invasive therapy of osteoporotic compression fracture of the vertebra. The surgery offers quick and lasting analgesia, considerable recovery of vertebral stature, and lasting remedy of kyphotic deformity at a low complication rate. These results justify using kyphoplasty as a useful treatment measure to patients with symptomatic OVCFs.