Risk Of Adjacent Vertebral Fracture Research Articles

The Risk of Adjacent Vertebral Fracture Following Balloon Kyphoplasty in Patients With Previous Adjacent Vertebral Fracture

The Risk of Adjacent Vertebral Fracture Following Balloon Kyphoplasty in Patients With Previous Adjacent Vertebral Fracture

Contact between leaked cement and adjacent vertebral endplate induces a greater risk of adjacent vertebral fracture with vertebral bone cement augmentation biomechanically

BACKGROUND CONTEXTAdjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) is a frequently observed complication after percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture (OVCF). Studies have demonstrated that intervertebral cement leakage (ICL) can increase the incidence of AVF, but others have reached opposite conclusions. The stress concentration initially increases the risk of AVF, and dispersive concentrated stress is the main biomechanical function of the intervertebral disc (IVD). PURPOSEThis study was designed to validate the hypothesis that direct contact between the leaked cement and adjacent bony endplate (BEP) can inhibit this biomechanical function, trigger adjacent vertebral stress concentration and increase the risk of AVF. STUDY DESIGNA retrospective study and corresponding numerical mechanical simulations. PATIENT SAMPLEClinical data from 97 OVCF patients treated by bone cement augmentation operations were reviewed in this study. OUTCOME MEASURESClinical assessments involved measuring ICL and cement-BEP contact status in patients with and without AVF. Numerical simulations were conducted to compute stress values in adjacent vertebral body's BEP and cancellous bone under various body positions. MATERIALS AND METHODSRadiographic and demographic data of 97 OVCF patients (with an average follow-up period of 11.5 months) treated using bone cement augmentation operation were reviewed in the present study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those with AVF and those without AVF. Bone cement leakage status was judged via 2 different methods: with or without IVD cement leakage and with and without adjacent vertebral endplate contact. The data from patients with and without AVF were compared, and the independent risk factors were identified through regression analysis. Patients without IVD cement leakage, with IVD cement leakage but without adjacent vertebral endplate cement contact, and with direct adjacent vertebral endplate cement contact were simulated using a previously constructed and validated lumbar finite element model, and the biomechanical indicators related to the AVF were computed and recorded in these surgical models. RESULTSRadiographic analysis revealed that the incidence of AVF was numerically higher, but was not significantly higher in patients with IVD cement leakage. In contrast, patients with direct adjacent vertebral endplate cement contact had a significantly greater incidence of AVF, which has also been proven to be an independent risk factor for AVF. In addition, numerical mechanical simulations revealed an obvious stress concentration tendency (the higher maximum equivalent stress value) in the adjacent vertebral body in the model with endplate cement contact. CONCLUSIONDirect adjacent vertebral endplate cement contact induces a greater risk of AVF through deterioration of the local biomechanical environment. Cement injection, therefore, should be terminated when IVD cement leakage occurs to reduce adjacent vertebral endplate cement contact and reduce the resulting risk of AVF biomechanics.

Influence of Simulated State of Disc Degeneration and Axial Stiffness of Coupler in a Hybrid Performance Stabilisation System on the Biomechanics of a Spine Segment Model.

Spinal fusion surgery leads to the restriction of mobility in the vertebral segments postoperatively, thereby causing stress to rise at the adjacent levels, resulting in early degeneration and a high risk of adjacent vertebral fractures. Thus, to address this issue, non-fusion surgery applies some pedicle screw-based dynamic stabilisation systems to provide stability and micromotion, thereby reducing stress in the fusion segments. Among these systems, the hybrid performance stabilisation system (HPSS) combines a rigid rod, transfer screw, and coupler design to offer a semi-rigid fixation method that preserves some mobility near the fusion site and reduces the adjacent segment compensatory effects. However, further research and confirmation are needed regarding the biomechanical effects of the dynamic coupler stiffness of the HPSS on the intrinsic degenerated adjacent segment. Therefore, this study utilised the finite element method to investigate the impact of the coupler stiffness of the HPSS on the mobility of the lumbar vertebral segments and the stress distribution in the intervertebral discs under flexion, extension, and lateral bending, as well as the clinical applicability of the HPSS on the discs with intrinsic moderate and severe degeneration at the adjacent level. The analytical results indicated that, regardless of the degree of disc degeneration, the use of a dynamic coupler stiffness of 57 N/mm in the HPSS may reduce the stress concentrations at the adjacent levels. However, for severely degenerated discs, the postoperative stress on the adjacent segments with the HPSS was still higher compared with that of the discs with moderate degeneration. We conclude that, when the discs had moderate degeneration, increasing the coupler stiffness led to a decrease in disc mobility. In the case of severe disc degeneration, the effect on disc mobility by coupler stiffness was less pronounced. Increasing the coupler stiffness ked to higher stress on intervertebral discs with moderate degeneration, while its effect on stress was less pronounced for discs with severe degeneration. It is recommended that patients with severe degeneration who undergo spinal dynamic stabilisation should remain mindful of the risk of accelerated adjacent segment degeneration.

The cranial vertebral body suffers a higher risk of adjacent vertebral fracture due to the poor biomechanical environment in patients with percutaneous vertebralplasty

BACKGROUND CONTEXTAdjacent vertebral fracture (AVF), a frequent complication of PVP, is influenced by factors such as osteoporosis progression, increased intervertebral cement leakage (ICL), and biomechanical deterioration. Notably, the risk of AVF is notably elevated in the cranial vertebral body compared with the caudal counterpart. Despite this knowledge, the underlying pathological mechanism remains elusive. PURPOSEThis study delves into the role of biomechanical deterioration as a pivotal factor in the heightened risk of AVF in the cranial vertebral body following PVP. By isolating this variable, we aim to unravel its prominence relative to other potential risk factors. STUDY DESIGNA retrospective study and corresponding numerical mechanical simulations. PATIENT SAMPLEClinical data from 101 patients treated by PVP were reviewed in this study. OUTCOME MEASURESClinical assessments involved measuring Hounsfield unit (HU) values of adjacent vertebral bodies as a representation of patients' bone mineral density (BMD). Additionally, the rates of ICL were compared among these patients. Numerical simulations were conducted to compute stress values in the cranial and caudal vertebral bodies under various body positions. METHODSIn a retrospective analysis of PVP patients spanning July 2016 to August 2019, we scrutinized the HU values of adjacent vertebral bodies to discern disparities in BMD between cranial and caudal regions. Additionally, we compared ICL rates on both cranial and caudal sides. To augment our investigation, well-validated numerical models simulated the PVP procedure, enabling the computation of maximum stress values in cranial and caudal vertebral bodies across varying body positions. RESULTSThe incidence rate of cranial AVF was significantly higher than the caudal side. No notable distinctions in HU values or ICL rates were observed between the cranial and caudal sides. The incidence of AVF showed no significant elevation in patients with ICL in either region. However, numerical simulations unveiled heightened stress values in the cranial vertebral body. CONCLUSIONSIn patients postPVP, the cranial vertebral body faces a heightened risk of AVF, primarily attributed to biomechanical deterioration rather than lower BMD or an elevated ICL rate.

Regional differences in bone mineral density biomechanically induce a higher risk of adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty: a case-comparative study.

Adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) is a frequently observed complication after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture. Biomechanical deterioration initially induces a higher risk of AVF. Studies demonstrated that the aggravation of regional differences in the elastic modulus of different components might deteriorate the local biomechanical environment and increase the risk of structural failure. Considering the existence of intravertebral regional differences in bone mineral density (BMD) (i.e. elastic modulus), it was hypothesized in the present study that higher intravertebral BMD differences may induce a higher risk of AVF biomechanically. The radiographic and demographic data of osteoporotic vertebral compressive fracture patients treated using PVP were reviewed in the present study. The patients were divided into two groups: those with AVF and those without AVF. The Hounsfield unit (HU) values of transverse planes from the superior to the inferior bony endplate were measured, and the differences between the highest and lowest HU values of these planes were considered the regional differences of the HU value. The data from patients with and without AVF were compared, and the independent risk factors were identified through regression analysis. PVP with different grades of regional differences in the elastic modulus of the adjacent vertebral body was simulated using a previously constructed and validated lumbar finite element model, and the biomechanical indicators related to AVF were computed and recorded in surgical models. Clinical data on 103 patients were collected in this study (with an average follow-up period of 24.1 months). The radiographic review revealed that AVF patients present a significantly higher regional difference in the HU value and that the increase in the regional difference of the HU value was an independent risk factor for AVF. In addition, numerical mechanical simulations recorded a stress concentration tendency (the higher maximum equivalent stress value) in the adjacent vertebral cancellous bone, with a stepwise aggravation of the adjacent cancellous bony regional stiffness differences. The aggravation of regional BMD differences induces a higher risk of AVF after PVP surgery through a deterioration of the local biomechanical environment. The maximum differences in the HU value of the adjacent cancellous bone should, therefore, be measured routinely to better predict the risk of AVF. Patients with noticeable regional BMD differences should be considered at high risk for AVF, and greater attention must be paid to these patients to reduce the risk of AVF. Level III b.

The vertebral Hounsfield units can quantitatively predict the risk of adjacent vertebral fractures after percutaneous kyphoplasty.

Measuring the Hounsfield units (HU) of the vertebrae may yield diagnostic information for fracture risk. This study aimed to measure HU of vertebrae in percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) patients using computed tomography (CT) imaging to determine the HU measurements threshold for adjacent vertebral fracture and to assess the relationship between HU measurements and the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture. A retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients who underwent PKP between January 2019 and October 2021 in the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. The HU of the vertebra was measured on the reconstructed CT images by 2 independent spine surgeons. The HU measurements of adjacent vertebrae and the ratio of HU measurements between the surgical vertebra and adjacent vertebrae were statistically analyzed to determine the best critical value and evaluate the prediction effectiveness and accuracy of the best critical value. A total of 105 patients were identified with complete imaging and follow-up information. Of these, 47 patients (44.8%) had evidence of an adjacent vertebral fracture on follow-up imaging. The mean HU measurements of the fractured adjacent vertebra were significantly different from the mean HU measurements of the unfractured adjacent vertebra (50.94±20.59 vs. 81.74±18.97 HU; P<0.001). There was a significant difference in the ratio of HU measurements between the surgical vertebra and the fractured adjacent vertebra and between the surgical vertebra and the unfractured adjacent vertebra (26.34±17.52 vs. 14.53±9.40; P<0.001). Interactive scatter plots and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that a HU measurement of 66.9 and a HU measurements ratio of 15.18 were the best thresholds for predicting the risk of fracture of adjacent vertebrae after PKP surgery, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.901 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.822-0.953; P<0.001] and 0.874 (95% CI: 0.790-0.934; P<0.001), respectively. The prediction accuracy was 90.4% and 84.0%, respectively. A low mean HU measurements of adjacent vertebrae or a high ratio of the mean HU measurements of the operated vertebrae to the adjacent vertebrae are risk factors for the vulnerability of adjacent vertebrae to fracture. The risk of fracture in the adjacent vertebrae after PKP can be predicted by measuring HU.

Recompression of Augmented Vertebrae after Balloon Kyphoplasty Is a Risk of Adjacent Vertebral Fracture.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) incidence after balloon kyphoplasty (BKP). To perform the analyses, 133 vertebrae of 128 patients who underwent BKP for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture were retrospectively investigated. According to the presence of AVF throughout a 1-year period following BKP, patients were divided into AVF (n = 22) and non-AVF (n = 111) groups. The groups were compared with respect to pre- and postoperative parameters, including the incidence of recompression of augmented vertebrae (RAV). RAV was defined as a decrease in anterior vertebral body height of at least 5 mm within the 3 months that followed BKP. To identify factors associated with AVF incidence, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The univariate analysis revealed that the AVF group had a lower cement augmentation ratio, greater preoperative wedge angle, lower preoperative vertebral body height, lower postoperative vertebral body height 3 months post-BKP, and a greater change in vertebral body height and rate of RAV than the non-AVF group. Multivariate analysis revealed that low preoperative vertebral body height and RAV occurrence were associated with AVF incidence. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to indicate that RAV is a risk factor for AVF. Study findings indicate that the incidence of AVF can be decreased if RAV development is avoided.

Vertebroplasty with high-viscosity cement versus conventional kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: a meta-analysis.

To evaluate outcomes following percutaneous vertebroplasty with high viscosity cement (PVP-HVC) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with normal-viscosity cement in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Pertinent studies were retrieved by searching five electronic databases up to July 2021. Additional records were identified via hand-searching of related references. Risk ratio (RR) and weighted mean difference (WMD), with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated. A trial sequential analysis (TSA) was done for cement leakage. Twelve studies, embracing 1050 patients with OVCFs, were included. PVP-HVC was superior to PKP with normal-viscosity cement regarding risk of cement leakage (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.83, I2 : 45.1%) and operation time (WMD: -11.26, 95% CI: -14.78 to -8.34, I2 : 88.8%). However, TSA revealed that a sufficient level of evidence for leakage reduction may have yet to be reached. PKP groups had a significant decrease in Cobb's angles postoperatively (within 1 month, WMD: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.85-3.48, I2 : 0%; after 1 year, WMD: 2.68, 95% CI: 1.35-4.01, I2 : 0%). There are no significant differences between the two procedures pertaining to injected cement volume, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and risk of adjacent vertebral fractures. PVP-HVC and PKP with normal-viscosity cement are safe and effective treatments for the management of OVCF, but the former is superior to the latter in terms of procedure time. The potential of PVP-HVC in reducing cement leaks remains to be validated by more well-designed studies.

INTRAVERTEBRAL EXPANDABLE IMPLANTS IN THORACOLUMBAR VERTEBRAL COMPRESSION FRACTURES.

ABSTRACTCurrent scientific evidence enhances the importance of the anatomic restauration of vertebral bodies with compression fractures aiming, as with other human body joints, to obtain a biomechanic and functional spine as close as the one prior to the fracture as possible. We consider that anatomic reduction of these fractures is only completely possible using intravertebral expandable implants, restoring vertebral endplate morphology, and enabling a more adequate intervertebral disc healing. This enables avoiding disc and osteodegenerative changes to that vertebral segment and its adjacent levels, as well as the anterior overload of adjacent vertebral bodies in older adults - a consequence of post-traumatic vertebral flattening - thus minimizing the risk of adjacent vertebral fractures. The ability of vertebral body fracture reduction and height maintenance over time and its percutaneous transpedicular application make the intra-vertebral expandable implants a very attractive option for treating these fractures. The authors show the direct and indirect reduction concepts of vertebral fractures, review the biomechanics, characteristics and indications of intravertebral expandable implants and present a suggestion for updating the algorithm for the surgical treatment of vertebral compression fractures which includes the use of intravertebral expandable implants. Level of Evidence V, Expert Opinion.

Glass -polyalkenoate cement: An alternative material for kyphoplasty in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures - An ex vivo study.

Adjacent vertebral body fracture is described as a risk after vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. It may be true that this phenomenon is caused precisely because of the frequently used polymethylmethacrylate cement (PMMA), which shows a higher level of stiffness than bone material and may ultimately lead to shifting stress levels within the entire spine. The goal of the present study was to evaluate and compare the pressure distribution in the endplate of human vertebrae after kyphoplasty with PMMA and aluminum-free glass-polyalkenoate cement (gpc). For the present study, 8 fresh frozen human cadaveric vertebral bodies from the thoracolumbar junction were used. All vertebrae were augmented transpedicularly on one side with gpc and on the other side with PMMA. A loading of 600 N, 800 N and 1000 N was applied. In the data processing an individual region of interest (roi) was generated for each vertebra. The following parameters were determined for each roi: maximum force [N], maximum pressure [kPa], mean pressure [kPa], roi area [cm2]. We found significantly higher mean pressure values in the areas of the vertebrae augmented with PMMA, compared to the ones after augmentation with gpc (p = 0.012) when applying 1000 N. In the groups with lower forces there were no statistical relevant differences. The pressure distribution shows an advantage for gpc. A material, which does not create load concentration onto the cranial and caudal vertebral surface, could have major advantages concerning the risk of adjacent vertebral fractures. Thus the results of the 1000 N loading protocol suggest gpc being a possible alternative to ordinary PMMA cement, regarding its influence on stiffness in kyphoplasty. These and other general aspects like incorporation should be addressed and elaborated more detailed in further studies.

Clinical outcome and subsequent sequelae of cement extravasation after percutaneous kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty: a comparative review.

Background Injection of cement during vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty can leak into surrounding structures and could be symptomatic. Purpose To identify the sites and incidence of cement extravasation after kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, and to evaluate their impacts on clinical outcomes. Material and Methods A retrospective review of 316 patients treated with kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty; 411 cases were included (223 kyphoplasty and 188 vertebroplasty). Cement extravasation was evaluated postoperatively by computed tomography (CT) scan of the spine. Clinical outcomes were assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence rate of cement extravasation between vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty groups ( P < 0.04). The most common site of cement extravasation was in paravertebral soft tissues for vertebroplasty (n = 33, 40.7%) and for kyphoplasty (n = 30, 30%). In the subgroup where cement leaked into the intradiscal space, adjacent vertebral body fractures occurred in 3/26 vertebrae (11.5%) in the vertebroplasty group and in 2/18 vertebrae (11.1%) in the kyphoplasty group. Both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in both VAS ( P < 0.001) and ODI scores ( P < 0.001). There was no significantly difference in patient satisfaction between those who had cement extravasation and those who did not, in both groups. Conclusion Kyphoplasty has an advantage in terms of less risk of cement extravasation. However, this factor did not reflect on subsequent sequelae or final clinical outcomes. This study did not find a distinct correlation between intradiscal cement extravasation and increased risk of adjacent vertebral fractures.

Effect of Bone Cement Volume Fraction on Adjacent Vertebral Fractures After Unilateral Percutaneous Kyphoplasty.

A retrospective study. Complications of the bone cement used in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures have received increasingly more attention, especially for bone cement volume. The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the relationship between bone cement volume fraction and adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). Between 2006 and 2011, 495 patients with single-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) were surgically treated by unilateral PKP and had completed 12-month follow-up in our hospital. According to the new OVCF, they were divided into 3 groups: AVF group, non-AVF group, and normal group (who were not new OVCF). On the basis of the value of the plain radiography, the cement volume fraction for the vertebral body was calculated, and cement leakage, bone mineral density, visual analog scale, and Cobb angle of preoperative and postoperative were analyzed. During the follow-up, 110 (22.2%) patients had new OVCF, and others were normal (n=385). Fifty-two cases were AVF and 58 were non-AVF. The cement volume fraction of AVF group, non-AVF group, and normal group were 32.5%±5.5%, 27.3%±1.8%, and 27.1%±2.6%, respectively. The 95% confidence interval of volume fraction were (31.0, 34.1), (26.8, 27.7), and (26.9, 28.5), respectively. The AVF group showed higher cement volume fraction in 3 groups (P<0.05), and there were no significant difference between non-AVF and normal group (P>0.05). There were 19 (36.5%) patients with cement leakage in AVF group, 12 (20.7%) in non-AVF group, and 68 (17.7%) in normal group. The AVF group showed higher cement leakage (P<0.05). Compared with AVF group and normal group, non-AVF group had lower bone mineral density in preoperation. All groups reported significantly improved visual analog scale scores and Cobb angle on the day of surgery. However, there were no significant difference between the 3 groups. Unilateral PKP is an effective and safe procedure for patients with OVCF. However, cement volume should be determined in terms of the vertebral body fraction to obtain a favorable outcome. The risk of AVF and cement leakage will increase obviously with the cement volume fraction increased. We recommend that a bone cement volume fraction of about one fourth is suitable for unilateral PKP.

Risk factors of adjacent vertebral collapse after percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women.

BackgroundRecently percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) was frequently performed for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs). It is widely accepted that new compression fractures tend to occur adjacent to the vertebral bodies, typically within a month after PVP. To determine the risk factors among several potential predictors for de novo VFs following PVP in patients with osteoporosis.MethodsWe retrospectively screened the clinical results of 88 patients who had been treated by PVP. Fifteen cases were excluded due to non-union. Of the remaining 73 patients, 19 (26.0 %) later returned with pain due to a new vertebral compression fracture. One patient with a non-adjacent fracture and 2 patients with adjacent factures occurring 3 months later were excluded from the study. The 9 male patients were excluded to avoid gender bias. Ultimately, we divided the 61 remaining postmenopausal female patients (mean age: 78.9 years) into the collapse group (14 patients) who had experienced adjacent vertebral collapse after PVP and the non-collapse group (47 patients) who had not. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for new VFs after PVP.ResultsAll 14 cases of adjacent VF occurred within the first month after surgery. The collapse group had significantly advanced age, higher urinary N-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen, and lower lumbar and hip bone mineral density (BMD) scores as compared with the non-collapse group. The odds ratios for age, lumbar, total hip, femoral neck, and trochanteric BMD were 4.5, 8.2, 4.5, 7.2, and 9.6, respectively. Positive likelihood ratios suggested that age more than 85 years, lumbar BMD less than 0.700 [−2.6SD], total hip BMD less than 0.700 [−1.8SD], neck BMD less than 0.600 [−2.1], and trochanter BMD less than 0.600 conferred an elevated risk of adjacent VF.ConclusionsOur study revealed that advanced age and decreased lumbar and hip BMD scores most strongly indicated a risk of adjacent VF following PVP.

Adjacent level fracture after osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a nonrandomized prospective study comparing balloon kyphoplasty with conservative therapy

In literature, there are conflicting clinical data regarding the incidence of subsequent fracture after balloon kyphoplasty (BK); moreover, the risk of adjacent vertebral fractures has not been well established because there are limited comparative data available with conservatively treated control groups. The purpose of this prospective nonrandomized comparative study was to analyze the incidence and possible risk factors of adjacent level fracture comparing BK with conservative therapy. Consecutive patients satisfying the inclusion criteria of acute vertebral fracture pain (occurring within 1-6 weeks of the event and not relieved by oral analgesia) and imaging criteria of acute fracture activity were enrolled. All patients meeting the inclusion criteria were offered BK. The patients who declined BK and agreed to longitudinal evaluation were treated conservatively and constituted the control group. In 3 out of 46 patients (6.5%) treated with BK and in 10 out of 61 patients treated conservatively (16.4%), the adjacent level fracture occurred within 1 year. The degree of local kyphosis and bone mineral density (BMD) were identified as important predictive factors for adjacent level fracture. These results indicated that BK carries a low risk of adjacent level fractures. Lower BMD values and altered biomechanics in the treated area of the spine due to resistant kyphosis are possible predictive factors for adjacent level fractures. A positive effect of BK over conventional treatment was observed upon reduction of the incidence of adjacent level fracture, vertebral morphology, and pain reduction.

Analysis of adjacent fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty: does intradiscal cement leakage really increase the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors associated with adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. We also investigated the effect of intradiscal cement leakage on adjacent vertebral fracture formation after PVP. From January 2003 to March 2009, 188 patients (163 women, 25 men; mean age, 70.9 years; range, 42-92 years) who underwent 214 PVP sessions at 351 levels for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The effect of intradiscal cement leakage on new adjacent vertebral fracture formation after PVP was evaluated. Possible other risk factors were also analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. The risk factors included age, gender, mean bone mineral density (BMD), the vertebral level treated, presence of an intravertebral cleft or cyst before treatment, kyphosis angle, wedge angle, and the injected cement volumes. During the follow-up periods, new adjacent vertebral fractures developed in 36 (10.3%) of 351 treated levels. For 91 (25.9%) levels, intradiscal cement leakage was detected on procedural fluoroscopic radiographs. There was no statistically significant association between intradiscal cement leakage and new adjacent vertebral compression fracture (p = 0.789). Among the other risk factors, only the vertebral levels treated, especially the thoracolumbar junction, showed a significant relationship to new adjacent vertebral fractures (univariate analysis, p = 0.037; multivariate analysis, p = 0.043). Intradiscal cement leakage does not seem to be related to subsequent adjacent vertebral compression fracture in patients who underwent PVP for treatment of an osteoporotic compression fracture. The thoracolumbar location of the initial compression fracture is the only factor correlated with an adjacent vertebral fracture after PVP.

Risk Factors of New Compression Fractures in Adjacent Vertebrae after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Study DesignRetrospective study.PurposeTo evaluate risk factors related to the development of new fractures in adjacent vertebrae after percutaneous vertebroplasty.Overview of LiteratureRecent reports indicate that undue numbers of new fractures in adjacent vertebral bodies occur after percutaneous vertebroplasty.MethodsOne hundred four of 369 patients who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty were followed for over 1 year. Fifty-four patients (51.9%) subsequently suffered from adjacent vertebral fractures. Age, lumbar lordotic angle, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, bone mineral density, amounts of cement injected, the restoration of vertebral height, kyphotic angle differences preexisting fracture, and intradiscal cement leakage were noted.ResultsAverage bone mineral density was -3.52 in the fracture group and -2.91 in the fracture-free group; the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture increased as bone mineral density decreased (p < 0.05). Intradiscal cement leakage occurred in 18 patients (33.3%) in the fracture group, indicating that the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture increased with intradiscal cement leakage. In addition, 36 patients (66.7%) in the fracture group had a pre-existing fracture; thus, the presence of a preexisting fracture was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of an adjacent vertebral fracture (p < 0.05). Higher restoration rates are associated with a greater likelihood of developing adjacent vertebral fractures (p < 0.05).ConclusionsThe factors found to contribute significantly to new fractures in adjacent vertebral bodies after percutaneous vertebroplasty were a lower bone mineral density, a greater restoration rate of vertebral height, a pre-existing fracture, and intradiscal cement leakage.

Prediction of adjacent vertebral fracture risk associated with vertebroplasty — A computer-based simulation study

Vertebrplasty involved injecting cement into a fractured vertebra to provide stabilisation. There is clinical evidence to suggest however that vertebroplasty may be assocated with a higher risk of adjacent vertebral fracture; which may be due to the change in material properties of the post-procedure vertebra modifying the transmission of mechanical stresses to adjacent vertebrae.

Risk Factors of New Compression Fractures in Adjacent Vertebrae after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty

Results: Average bone mineral density was -3.52 in the fracture group and -2.91 in the fracture-free group; the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture increased as bone mineral density decreased (p < 0.05). Intradiscal cement leakage occurred in 18 patients (33.3%) in the fracture group, indicating that the risk of adjacent vertebral fracture increased with intradiscal cement leakage. In addition, 36 patients (66.7%) in the fracture group had a preexisting fracture; thus, the presence of a preexisting fracture was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of an adjacent vertebral fracture (p < 0.05). Higher restoration rates are associated with a greater likelihood of developing adjacent vertebral fractures (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The factors found to contribute significantly to new fractures in adjacent vertebral bodies after percutaneous vertebroplasty were a lower bone mineral density, a greater restoration rate of vertebral height, a pre-existing fracture, and intradiscal cement leakage.