Clinical outcome of bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar refractures after percutaneous kyphoplasty

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation for cement vertebrae refractures with lower limb neurological symptoms after percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Methods A total of 123 elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures underwent PKP from December 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed by case series study. Twelve patients had vertebral refracture with compression of the spinal cord or cauda equina which resulted in lumbosacral and leg pain, numbness and disability of ambulation and there were five males and seven females, with age of (69.2±7.1)years. Injured vertebrae was located at T12in five cases, at L1 in five and at L2 in two. Bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation through a standard posterior approach was utilized to treat all the 12 patients. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior vertebral height compression ratio, and kyphotic angle at the preoperative time, one week postoperatively and last follow-up were recorded and compared. Intraoperative and postope-rative complications were also recorded. Results The mean duration of follow-up in all the patients was 26.7 months (range, 12-36 months). Intraoperative nerve injury, dural tear, leakage of bone cement, bone cement toxicity reaction, and pulmonary embolism were not observed during the surgery. The postoperative radiographs for all the 12 patients showed that the bone cement was distributed in cancellous bone and around the screw appropriately where there was no cement leakage out of the vertebral body or pedicle. Compared with preoperative scores, the average low back pain VAS, leg pain VAS and ODI at postoperative one week were improved by (2.2±0.7)points, (2.2±0.4)points and (33.2±8.9)points, respectively (P 0.05). Conclusion For elderly patients with spinal cord or cauda equina nerve compression symptoms after PKP for osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures, the usage of posterior approach bone cement-augmented pedicle screw fixation can effectively correct kyphosis, relieve neurological symptoms and restore spinal stability. Key words: Spinal fractures; Thoracic vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Internal fixators; Vertebral refracture