OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty by unipedicular and bipedicular approach for treatment of Kummell's disease.

METHODSThe clinical data of patients with Kummell's disease undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty via unilateral or bilateral approach between January, 2006 and January, 2011 were reviewed. The clinical efficacy, operation time, bone cement injection volume, incidence of cement leakage, degree of vertebral height restoration, and degree of kyphosis correction were compared between the patients receiving surgery via the two approaches.

RESULTSThe operation time was shorter in the unipedicular group than in the bipedicular group (P<0.05), but bone cement injection volume, incidence of cement leakage, degree of anterior vertebral height restoration, degree of middle vertebral height restoration, degree of kyphosis correction, and VAS scores were all comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). In both groups, the VAS scores at 24 h, 3 months and at the last follow-up after the surgery were lowered compared to the preoperative scores (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONBoth unipedicular and bipedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty can achieve satisfactory analgesia in the treatment of Kummell's disease with similar clinical efficacy. The unipedicular approach is sufficient for treatment of Kummell's disease.