BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and bone cement-augmented short segmental fixation (BCA+SSF) for treating Kümmell disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between June 2013 and December 2015, 60 patients were treated with PKP or BCA+SSF. All patients were followed up for 12–36 months. We retrospectively reviewed outcomes, including Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and kyphotic Cobb angle.

RESULTS: VAS, ODI, and Cobb angle, measured postoperatively and at the final follow-up, were lower than those measured preoperatively in both groups (P<0.05). VAS, ODI, and Cobb angle measured postoperatively demonstrated no significant differences when compared with those measured at the final follow-up in the PKP group (P>0.05). In the BCA+SSF group, VAS and ODI at the final follow-up were lower than those measured postoperatively (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the Cobb angle (P>0.05). The PKP group had better VAS and ODI than the BCA+SSF group, postoperatively (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in VAS and ODI at the final follow-up (P>0.05) or the Cobb angle measured postoperatively and at the final follow-up (P>0.05) between the 2 groups. Operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay in the PKP group were lower than those in the BCA+SSF group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in complications (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: PKP patients had better early clinical outcomes, shorter operation times and hospital admission times, and decreased blood loss, but had similar complications, radiographic results, and long-term clinical outcomes compared with BCA+SSF patients.

Keywords: Comparative Study, Fracture Fixation, Internal, kyphoplasty, Osteoporosis, Spinal Fractures