Abstract
Objective
Comparison of clinical outcome after Percutaneous Vertebro Plasty (PVP) for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures (OVCFs) between patients with and without Intra Vertebral Clefts (IVCs).
Background
PVP is a common treatment modality for painful OVCFs. Patients presenting with OVCFs with an IVC, also described as avascular necrosis of the vertebral body or intravertebral pseuadoarthrosis, are thought to represent a specific subgroup: filling the cleft might result in immediate and possibly superior pain relief due to stabilization of the excessive mobility associated with an IVC and the risk for cement leakage might be decreased due to its cavitational nature.
Methods
102 patients with 197 OVCFs were prospectively recruited for follow-up using a 0–10 Pain Intensity Numerical Rating Scale (PI-NRS) and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Quality of Life questionnaire before PVP and at 7 days (PI-NRS only), 1, 3 and 12 months after PVP. Cement leakage was assessed on direct post-operative CT-scanning. At 6 and 52 weeks and at suspicion, patients were analyzed for new fractures.
From blinded data two experienced musculoskeletal interventional radiologists retrospectively assessed all treated OVCFs for the presence of an IVC, defined as an abnormal, well-demarcated, linear or cystic hypointensity on MRI T1-weighted sequences and/or hyperintensity on MRI T2 STIR-sequences and/or the evident cleft filling on post-PVP CT-scanning. Outcome of patients with and without IVCs was compared using multivariate analysis correcting for confounders. For the purpose of comparison, a subgroup of all patients with PVP in isolated OVCFs was assessed as well.
Results
In 48 OVCFs in 48 of 102 patients an IVC was identified (47.1%). Outcome regarding PI-NRS and SF-36 was comparable between both groups. In 42 patients who received PVP in only one OVCF, 21 clefts were detected. Despite similar baseline values, average back pain after PVP was significantly higher over time in patients with an IVC (1.1 point, p=0.03) but ultimately comparably lower at 12 months (4.4 and 4.3 points, p < 0.001). Outcome regarding SF-36 was comparable, as was occurrence of new OVCFs after PVP. The presence of an IVC was identified as a strong risk factor (OR 4.3, p=0.004) for occurrence of cortical (intradiscal) cement leakage.
Conclusion
In patients with long-standing OVCFs, an IVC is a common entity. Patients with OVCFs with an IVC benefit from PVP, but do not comprehend a superior treatment indication. Overall benefit from PVP was comparable to patients without an IVC.
In patients with treated isolated OVCFs with an IVC, average back pain is higher over the first year after PVP but ultimately comparable. Furthermore, an IVC is associated with an increased risk for cortical (intradiscal) cement leakage.
