Osteoporosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Osteoporosis, including details on symptoms, treatment, prevention, causes.

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty: New treatment strategies for fractures in the osteoporotic spine.

Karlsson MK, Hasserius R, Gerdhem P, Obrant KJ, Ohlin A

Clinical and Molecular Osteoporoses Research Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden. magnus.karlsson@med.lu.se

During the last decade, two new treatment modalities for osteoporotic vertebral fractures have gained more interest: percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. The techniques and the short-term clinical results and complications have been presented but there is no scientific evidence-based information regarding the efficacy of the procedures, such as randomized controlled trials (RCT). Instead, we have to rely on prospective and retrospective uncontrolled short-term observational studies and case-control studies. These studies have shown consistently that the short-term results after the procedures are favorable as regards both pain relief and functional status. It is currently unknown, however, whether a vertebroplasty or a kyphoplasty gives a better outcome than nonoperative treatment, and whether the long-term results are as favorable as the short-term results.

Published 2 November 2005 in Acta Orthop, 76(5): 620-7.
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