Balloon kyphoplasty as palliative care for painful pathological spinal fracture followed by lung cancer metastasis: A cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundPathological spine fractures caused by metastases of lung cancer have brought great suffering to patients. Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been considered a preferred alternative for painful spinal metastases. The clinical efficacy and safety of PKP for metastatic spinal lesions are urgently to be evaluated.MethodsA cohort study was conducted on 54 cases with pathologic spine fractures caused by metastasis of lung cancer. The correction of kyphosis was assessed by the Cobb angle. The life dependence and quality of the patients were evaluated by the Barthel Index of activities of daily living (ADL) and the quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Patients' survival was carefully recorded.ResultsPKP significantly corrected the kyphosis compared with conservative treatment. The ratio of moderate dependence after fracture was clearly increased by PKP. QALY indicated a better life quality brought by PKP. However, PKP could not improve the survival rate of patients.ConclusionPKP can be used as an effective palliative care treatment for patients with metastatic pathologic spinal fractures of lung cancer.

Editorial: Diagnosis and treatment of bone metastases

“…Surgical goals for metastatic tumors of the spine are local tumor control, pain relief, spinal stability, relief of spinal cord neurologic compression, and improved quality of life (16). Positive vitreous pressure (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) can effectively relieve the pain degree of spinal metastasis patients, with the advantages of small trauma, low risk, short operation time and quick analgesic effect (17). Wang et al Pulmonary cement embolism is a rare, Wang et al investigated risk factors for pulmonary cement embolism after PVP and radiofrequency ablation for spinal metastases.…”