BACKGROUND: Balloon kyphoplasty (KP) has been widely applied in the treatment of elderly patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fracture (OVCF), but there has been little research on the pain relief effect. Therefore, we performed this study of patients who received KP. The study included a set of fluoroscopy tests and follow-up evaluation, which aimed to verify the effectiveness of kyphoplasty in controlling back pain associated with OVCFs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-three OVCF patients underwent kyphoplasty: 21 were allocated to an intervention group and 22 were allocated to a control group, and the 2 groups received treatment with different KP instruments. The variation of vertebral height was measured on X-ray and change of signal of MRI was recorded. The pain was assessed by VAS score and diagram, and physical function was evaluated by ODI. The complications after surgery were recorded and collated during 2 years of follow-up.

RESULTS: The intervention group showed no significant difference on the VAS and ODI compared to the control group (p>0.05). There was no difference in the VAS with different degrees of radiological change (p>0.05). Signal change on MRI imaging was rare.

CONCLUSIONS: Kyphoplasty is a positive way to alleviate early-onset OVCF pain. The change of BME extent in the treated level is unrelated to the relief of back pain after KP.

Keywords: kyphoplasty, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Osteoporotic Fractures, Spinal Fractures