BACKGROUND:Diffusion conditions of bone cement in vertebral fracture line may be one of the main factors affecting the therapeutic effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty, but there are less related studies. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of diffusion conditions of bone cement in vertebral fracture line on the therapeutic outcomes of percutaneous vertebroplasty. METHODS: CR and MRI data of 77 patients with T1-L2 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, 28 males and 49 females, aged 55-86 years, undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty were analyzed. Al the patients were divided into test group (n=53, bone cement diffused wel in the vertebral fracture line) and control group (n=24, bone cement dispersion was unsatisfactory). Visual analogue scale, Oswestry disability index and Cobb angle change in the two groups were measured and compared before and after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There was no difference in the visual analogue scale score, Oswestry disability index and Cobb angle between the two groups before operation, but these parameters were al improved significantly in the two groups after 2 days and 6 months of operation (P< 0.05). The visual analogue scale score and Oswestry disability index were significantly lower in the test group than the control group at 2 days after operation (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between the two groups at 6 months after operation. The Cobb angle and vertebral colapse rate became lower in the test group than the control group at 6 months after operation (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in the re-fracture rate between the two groups. These findings indicate that poor bone cement dispersion in the fracture line can affect the relief of short-term pain and dysfunction and it can increase the possibility of long-term secondary vertebral colapse.