Respective contributions of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty to the management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Abstract

Among individuals aged 50–80 years, 5–20% have one or more vertebral crush fractures. One-third of these patients require treatment for acute or chronic pain. Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty were introduced over the last two decades as treatments for incapacitating pain from osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Both techniques proved effective and safe in numerous retrospective and prospective studies. They now deserve to be incorporated into the standard treatment strategy for painful and incapacitating vertebral fractures. Kyphoplasty seeks not only to stabilize the vertebra, but also to correct the kyphosis induced by the vertebral body collapse. However, the correction is often limited (less than 15°) and has not been shown to increase the benefits in terms of pain relief or quality-of-life improvement, compared to vertebroplasty. Kyphoplasty is more costly than vertebroplasty, which is therefore emerging as the treatment of choice. However, a randomized double-blind trial comparing vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty is needed. Furthermore, a randomized comparison of vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty versus noninterventional treatment is needed in patients admitted for pain immediately after a vertebral crush fracture.