OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP)in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures complicated with intravertebral clefts.

METHODSThe clinical data of 176 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures underwent treatment from January 2013 to May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated by unilateral PVP procedure, 37 patients with intravertebral clefts. Seven cases were excluded according to the standard and 30 patients were internalized in the study. There were 14 males and 16 females, aged from 60 to 93 years old with an average of (77.73±9.33) years. The mean bone mineral density was (-3.16±0.48) SD (ranged from -2.3 to -4.1 SD). The Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) were analyzed before operation and 1 day, 3 months, 1 year after operation. The compression ratio of injured vertebrae was measured by X-ray before operation and 3 days, 3 months after operation.

RESULTSAll the operations were successful and all the patients were followed up more than 1 year. Postoperative at 1 d, 3 months, 1 year, VAS scores were obviously released (2.93±0.83, 2.07±0.58, 1.57±0.68, respectively) than preoperative 7.00±1.41(<0.01);and ODI scores were obviously improved (36.2±4.1, 22.9±6.7, 18.8±5.9, respectively) than preoperative 40.5±3.9(<0.01). Postoperative at 3 days, 3 months, vertebral height percent of injured vertebrae were (79.26±8.57)% , (77.68±8.96)% , respectively, which had obviously improvement compared to preoperative (72.00±12.14)% (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPVP is an effective and reliable method in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures complicated with intravertebral clefts. It can effectively restore the height of the vertebral body, obviously improve the patient's pain and functional status.