Unilateral approach painless vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures of critically ill patients under lateral decubitus position

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of unilateral approach painless vertebral augmentation in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) in the critically ill patients under lateral decubitus postition. Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze 97 patients with severe vertebral fractures admitted to the Henan Provincial People's Hospital from April 2004 to January 2017. There were 27 males and 70 females, aged 59-99 years [(78.5±13.2)years]. There were 11 patients with three-segment fracture, nine patients with two-segment fracture and 77 patients with single fracture. All patients were treated with lateral decubitus unilateral approach for painless vertebral augmentation and received postoperative rehabilitation training guided by physicians. Preoperative and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic pressure, oxygen saturation and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation score II (APACHE II) , height of vertebral compression site, and injured vertebrae Cobb angle were evaluated. The visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) were assessed to define function improvement. Meanwhile, the occurrence of re-fracture and complications were recorded. Results All patients were followed up for 3-8 months [(6.3±2.9)months]. The operation time was (69.2±25.9)minutes, and the amount of intraoperative bleeding was (7.5±2.6)ml. There were no significant differences in respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure or oxygen saturation before operation and after operation (P>0.05). No surgical discontinuation or deterioration occurred. The APACHE II score was (15.2±3.7)points before operation and (8.4±0.7)points at 24 hours after operation (P 0.05). The Cobb angle was (25.6±9.3)° before operation, (20.7±2.5)° at one week after operation and (18.5±3.1)° at the last follow-up (P>0.05). The VAS score was (8.5±1.2)points before operation, (2.1±0.3)points at one week after operation, and (3.2±1.1)points at the last follow-up, respectively. The VAS scores at 1 week and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with preoperative VAS (P 0.05). The ODI value was 39.9±3.4 before operation, 20.2±5.2 at one week after operation, and 17.2±2.0 at the last follow-up . The ODI values 1 week after operation and at the last follow-up were significantly improved compared with preoperative ODI (P<0.05), showing improvement trend during the follow-up (P<0.05). No re-fracture occurred during the follow-up. No serious complications such as nerve injury, pulmonary embolism or death occurred during the operation and postoperative follow-up. Conclusions The unilateral approach painless vertebral augmentation for the treatment of severe OVCFs in critically ill patients under lateral decubitus position can improve the patient's operative tolerance and satisfaction, shorten the operation time, relieve postoperative pain and promote functional recovery. It is an alternative surgical procedure for the treatment of severe OVCFs in internal medicine. Key words: Spinal fractures; Osteoporotic fractures; Vertebral augmentation