Short segment fixation versus vertebroplasty in treatment of spinal fractures and their effects on quality of life

Abstract

Objective To compare the effects of short segment fixation and vertebroplasty in the treatment of spinal fractures and their effects on quality of life. Methods Sixty-eight patients with spinal fractures treated at our hospital from June, 2015 to June, 2017 were selected, and were randomly divided into a study group (n=34) and a control group (n=34). The study group were treated with vertebroplasty, and the control group with short segment fixation. The treatment effect, Cobb angle, high compression ratio, and quality of life were compared between the two groups. Results After the treatment, the improvement of Frankel classification of the study group was significantly better than that of the control group (P 0.05). After the treatment, the Cobb angle decreased and the high prevertebral compression ratio increased in both groups (all P<0.05); the Cobb angle was significantly lower and the high prevertebral compression ratio was higher in the study group than in the control group [(10.25±1.52)° vs. (16.32±2.41)° and (93.33±5.31) vs. (82.37±4.35), both P<0.05]. Conclusions The effects of short segment fixation and vertebroplasty in the treatment of spinal fractures are significantly different. The patients treated by vertebroplasty has better effect, Cobb angle, the anterior high compression ratio of the vertebrae, and quality of life. Key words: Vertebroplasty; Spine fracture; Short segment fixation; Effect; Quality of life