Comparison of Unilateral and Bilateral Percutaneous Kyphoplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with a unilateral versus bilateral approach in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods We retrospectively analyzed a total of 147 patients (unilateral group: 79, bilateral group: 68) with OVCFs treated with PKP at the Department of Spine Surgery, Wuhan Fourth Hospital between August 2020 and January 2022. Patients’ personal information, operation time, bone cement injection volume, as well as pre- and post-operative visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior vertebral body height and Cobb angle were recorded. Results All 147 patients were successfully treated with PKP and were followed up for at least 6 months. Our results showed that the operative time was significantly shorter in the unilateral group (41.60±5.64) minutes than in the bilateral group (66.53±9.40) minutes, and the volume of bone cement injected was also significantly less in the unilateral group (5.27±0.73) mL than in the bilateral group (6.87±0.93) mL ( P <0.01). The VAS score, ODI index, vertebral height and Cobb angle at postoperative follow-up were significantly improved in both groups compared to the preoperative period ( P <0.01); However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P >0.05). Repeat thoracic and lumbar radiographs showed cement leakage in seven cases (8.86%) in the unilateral group and five cases (7.35%) in the bilateral group, but all were asymptomatic and required no further management. During our entire follow-up period, there were five adjacent vertebral fractures in the unilateral group (6.33%) and four in the bilateral group (5.88%). Conclusion There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of improvement in VAS score, ODI index, restoration of vertebral body height, and posterior convexity deformity, but unilateral puncture had the advantage of shorter operative time and less cement injection.

Thoracic spinal cord injury and paraplegia caused by intradural cement leakage after percutaneous kyphoplasty: A case report

“…In the case of PKP, the recovery effect of the vertebral anterior margin, operative time, and improvement of postoperative low back pain VAS did not show a significant difference between unilateral and bilateral punctures. However, unilateral puncture demonstrated the advantage of a shorter operative time and reduced cement injection[ 17 ]. It is crucial to note that in the unilateral approach, an excessively large puncture angle may lead to damage to the medial wall of the pedicle.…”