Objective To compare the effectiveness of different puncture methods of the flexible bone cement delivery device in unilateral percutaneous curved vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral upper 1/3 compression fractures. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 67 patients with osteoporotic vertebral upper 1/3 compression fractures who were admitted and met the selection criteria between January 2023 and April 2024. The patients were divided into two groups based on the puncture method of the flexible bone cement delivery device: the oblique puncture group (n=37) and the parallel puncture group (n=30). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the two groups in terms of gender, age, bone mineral density (T value), distribution of fractured vertebrae, time from injury to operation, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior vertebral height of the fractured vertebra, and Cobb angle of the fractured vertebra. The following parameters were compared between the two groups: operation time, incidence of secondary puncture, incidence of bone cement leakage, volume of injected bone cement, bone cement distribution score, as well as VAS score, ODI, anterior vertebral height of the fractured vertebra, and Cobb angle of the fractured vertebra at 1 day after operation and at last follow-up. Results Two cases in the oblique puncture group and 7 cases in the parallel puncture group underwent secondary puncture during operation, and the difference in the incidence of secondary puncture was significant (P<0.05). No complications such as bone cement hypersensitivity, bone cement embolism, nerve injury, or epidural hematoma occurred in both groups. There was no significant difference in operation time, volume of injected bone cement, incidence of bone cement leakage, distribution score and rating of bone cement between the two groups (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 12.0 months), and there was no significant difference in the follow-up time between the two groups (P>0.05). No further fracture collapse or compression occurred in the fractured vertebra during follow-up. Both groups exhibited significant improvements in VAS score, ODI, anterior vertebral height, and Cobb angle of the fractured vertebra after operation compared to baseline (P<0.05). There were also significant differences between the two time points after operation (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For osteoporotic vertebral upper 1/3 compression fractures treated with unilateral percutaneous curved vertebroplasty, both oblique and parallel puncture methods of the flexible bone cement delivery device can effectively relieve pain, but the former is more conducive to reducing the incidence of secondary puncture.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of orthopedic robot with modified tracer fixation (short for modified orthopedic robot) assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of single-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods The clinical data of 155 patients with single-segment OVCF who were admitted between December 2017 and January 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. According to the operation methods, the patients were divided into robot group (87 cases, PKP assisted by modified orthopedic robot) and C-arm group (68 cases, PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, T value of bone mineral density, therapeutic segment, grade of vertebral compression fracture, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The effectiveness evaluation indexes of the two groups were collected and compared. The clinical evaluation indexes included the establishment time of working channel, dose of intraoperative fluoroscopy, the amount of injected cement, VAS score before and after operation, and the occurrence of complications. The imaging evaluation indexes included the degree of puncture deviation, the degree of bone cement diffusion, the leakage of bone cement, the midline vertebral height and the Cobb angle before and after operation. Results The establishment time of working channel in robot group was significantly shorter than that in C-arm group, and the dose of intraoperative fluoroscopy was significantly larger than that in C-arm group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the amount of injected cement between the two groups (t=1.149, P=0.252). The patients in two groups were followed up 10-14 months (mean, 12 months). Except that the intraoperative VAS score of the robot group was significantly better than that of the C-arm group (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the two groups at other time points (P>0.05). No severe complication such as infection, spinal cord or nerve injury, and pulmonary embolism occurred in the two groups. Five cases (5.7%) in robot group and 7 cases (10.2%) in C-arm group had adjacent segment fracture, and the difference in incidence of adjacent segment fracture between the two groups was not significant (χ2=1.105, P=0.293). Compared with C-arm group, the deviation of puncture and the diffusion of bone cement at 1 day after operation, the midline vertebral height and Cobb angle at 1 month after operation and last follow-up were significantly better in robot group (P<0.05). Eight cases (9.1%) in the robot group and 16 cases (23.5%) in the C-arm group had cement leakage, and the incidence of cement leakage in the robot group was significantly lower than that in the C-arm group (χ2=5.993, P=0.014). There was no intraspinal leakage in the two groups. ConclusionCompared with traditional PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy, modified orthopedic robot-assisted PKP in the treatment of single-segment OVCF can significantly reduce intraoperative pain, shorten the establishment time of working channel, and improve the satisfaction of patients with operation. It has great advantages in reducing the deviation of puncture and improving the diffusion of bone cement.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of robot-assisted percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly. Methods The clinical data of 90 elderly patients with OVCF treated in Sichuan Science City Hospital between June 2019 and March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into robot-assisted group (40 cases) and C-arm-assisted group (50 cases). The pre- and post-operative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, pre- and post-operative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, intraoperative cement leakage, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, operation time, and the loss of hemoglobin were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of intraoperative cement leakage (5% vs. 20%), intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency [(18.3±3.2) vs. (41.3±7.8) times], operation time [(28.3±4.6) vs. (43.2±7.3) min] and the loss of hemoglobin [(7.2±2.0) vs. (15.2±4.4) g/L] of the robot-assisted group were less than those of the C-arm-assisted group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the decrease of VAS score or ODI score (3.63±1.64 vs. 3.40±1.65, P>0.05; 50.70±4.95 vs. 52.10±6.69, P>0.05). Conclusions Robot-assisted PVP for elderly patients with OVCF can significantly reduce the risk of cement leakage, shorten the operation time, reduce the intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and reduce the surgical hidden blood loss. It can be used for clinical promotion and application.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of unilateral percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) through mild side and severe side approaches in the treatment of elderly osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Methods The clinical data of 100 patients with OVCF with symptoms on one side who were admitted between June 2020 and June 2021 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the severe side approach group (group A) and the mild side approach group (group B) according to the cement puncture access during PVP, with 50 cases in each group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of general information such as gender composition, age, body mass index, bone density, damaged segments, disease duration, and chronic comorbidities (P>0.05). The lateral margin height of the vertebral body on the operated side in group B was significantly higher than that of group A (P<0.001). The pain level and spinal motor function were evaluated using the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) before operation, at 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months after operation in both groups, respectively. Results No intraoperative or postoperative complications such as bone cement allergy, fever, incision infection, and transient hypotension occurred in both groups. Four cases of bone cement leakage occurred in group A (3 cases of intervertebral leakage and 1 case of paravertebral leakage), and 6 cases of bone cement leakage occurred in group B (4 cases of intervertebral leakage, 1 case of paravertebral leakage, and 1 case of spinal canal leakage), and none of them had neurological symptoms. Patients in both groups were followed up 12-16 months, with a mean of 13.3 months. All fractures healed and the healing time ranged from 2 to 4 months, with a mean of 2.9 months. The patients had no complication related to infection, adjacent vertebral fracture, or vascular embolism during follow-up. At 3 months postoperatively, the lateral margin height of the vertebral body on the operated side in groups A and B were improved when compared with preoperative ones, and the difference between pre- and post-operative lateral margin height of the vertebral body in group A was higher than that in group B, all showing significant differences (P<0.001). The VAS scores and ODI in both groups improved significantly at all postoperative time points when compared with those before operation, and further improved with time after operation (P<0.05). The differences in VAS scores and ODI between the two groups before operation were not significant (P>0.05); VAS scores and ODI in group A were significantly better than those in group B at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after operation (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between the two groups at 12 months after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion Patients with OVCF have more severe compression on the more symptomatic side of the vertebral body, and patients with PVP have better pain relief and better functional recovery when cement is injected through the severe symptomatic side.
ObjectiveTo compare the effect of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with different phases bone cement for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsThe clinical data of 219 OVCF patients who treated with PKP and met the selection criteria between June 2016 and May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different time of intraoperative injection of bone cement, they were divided into observation group [116 cases, intraoperative injection of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in low-viscosity wet-sand phase)] and control group (103 cases, intraoperative injection of PMMA bone cement in low-viscosity wire-drawing phase). There was no significance in general date of gender, age, disease duration, body mass index, bone mineral density T value, fracture vertebral body, preoperative fracture severity of the responsible vertebral body, anterior height ratio of the responsible vertebral body, preoperative pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and Oswestry disability index (ODI) between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS score and ODI score were used to evaluate the improvement of patients’ symptoms at immediate, 2 days, 3 months after operation and at last follow-up. At 1 day, 3 months after operation, and at last follow-up, X-ray film and CT of spine were reexamined to observe the distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body, bone cement leakage, and other complications. During the follow-up, the refracture rate of the responsible vertebral body and the fracture rate of the adjacent vertebral body were recorded.ResultsThe injection amount of bone cement in the observation group and control group were (4.53±0.45) mL and (4.49±0.57) mL, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.018, P=0.310). Patients in both groups were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 13.3 months). There were 95 cases (81.9%) and 72 cases (69.9%) of the bone cement distribution range more than 49% of the cross-sectional area of the vertebral body in the observation group and the control group, respectively, showing significant difference in the incidence between the two groups (χ2=4.334, P=0.037). The VAS score and ODI score of the postoperative time points were significantly improved compared with those before operation (P<0.05), and there were significant differences among the postoperative time points (P<0.05). The VAS score and ODI score of the observation group were significantly better than those of the control group (P<0.05) at immediate, 2 days, and 3 months after operation, and there was no significant difference between the two groups at last follow-up (P>0.05). At 1 day after operation, the cement leakage occurred in 18 cases of the observation group (8 cases of venous leakage, 6 cases of paravertebral leakage, 4 cases of intradiscal leakage) and in 22 cases of the control group (9 cases of venous leakage, 8 cases of paravertebral leakage, 5 cases of intradiscal leakage). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). During the follow-up, 5 cases (4.3%) in the observation group, 12 cases (11.7%) in the control group had responsible vertebral refracture, and 6 cases (5.2%) in the observation group and 14 cases (13.6%) in the control group had adjacent vertebral fracture, the differences were significant (χ2=4.105, P=0.043; χ2=4.661, P=0.031).ConclusionBone cement injection with wet-sand phase in PKP is beneficial for the bone cement evenly distributed, strengthening the responsible vertebral, relieving the short-term pain after operation, decreasing the rate of responsible vertebral refracture and adjacent vertebral fracture without increasing the incidence of relevant complications and can enhance the effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-guided percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsA clinical data of 63 cases with multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF without neurologic deficit treated with PKP between October 2017 and February 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into robot-guided group (33 cases) and traditional fluoroscopy group (30 cases). There was no significant difference in gender, age, fracture segment, bone mineral density, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups (P>0.05). The time to establish the tunnel, the times of fluoroscopy, the dose of fluoroscopy, the deviation of puncture, the distribution of bone cement, the leakage of bone cement, the puncture angle, and the postoperative VAS score, midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle were recorded and compared.ResultsThe patients in two groups were followed up 11-13 months (mean, 12 months). Compared with traditional fluoroscopy group, the time to establish the tunnel, the times and dose of fluoroscopy in robot-guided group were significantly lower, the deviation of puncture was slighter, the distribution of bone cement was better, and the puncture angle was larger, the differences between the two groups were significant (P<0.05). There were 8 segments (9.3%, 8/86) of bone leakage in robot-guided group and 17 segments (22.6%, 17/75) in traditional fluoroscopy group, the difference between the two groups was significant (χ2=5.455, P=0.020). There was no significant difference in VAS score, the midline vertebral height, and Cobb angle between the two groups at 2 days after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).ConclusionRobot-guided PKP in treatment of multi-segmental thoracolumbar OVCF can shorten the operation time, improve the accuracy of puncture, reduce the times and dose of fluoroscopy, reduce the leakage of bone cement, and achieve better cement distribution.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of TiRobot-assisted and C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) via pedicle of vertebra in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) of thoracic vertebrae. Methods The clinical data of 85 patients with OVCF of thoracic vertebrae who were admitted between January 2020 and March 2023 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed including 40 patients (50 vertebrae) undergoing PKP assisted by TiRobot (group A) and 45 patients (50 vertebrae) undergoing PKP assisted by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy (group B). There was no significant difference in the comparison of baseline data such as gender, age, body mass index, bone mineral density T-value, fracture segment, trauma history, and preoperative numerical rating scale (NRS) score, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and Cobb angle of injured vertebra between the two groups (P>0.05). The effectiveness evaluation indexes of the two groups, including the operation time, the volume of injected cement, the times of fluoroscopies, the length of hospital stay, and the occurrence of postoperative complications were collected and compared. Anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films and CT of the injured vertebra were reviewed at 1 day after operation to observe whether there was cement leakage and to evaluate the distribution of cement in the injured vertebra. Before and after operation, pain was assessed using the NRS score, dysfunction was assessed using the ODI, and vertebral height recovery was assessed by measuring the Cobb angle of the injured vertebrae by X-ray films. Results Both groups of patients successfully completed the operation, the operation time, the volume of injected cement, the times of fluoroscopies, and the length of hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B (P<0.05). The patients in two groups were followed up 4-12 months (mean, 9.6 months). Bone cement leakage occurred in 5 vertebrae in group A and 15 vertebrae in group B after operation, all of which leaked to the intervertebral space and around the vertebral body, and the patients had no obvious clinical symptoms. The difference of bone cement leakage between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). No severe complication such as intraspinal leakage, infection, or vascular embolism was found in the two groups. At 1 day after operation, the distribution index of bone cement in group A was mostly grade Ⅴ, which was well dispersed; while in group B, it was mostly grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅴ; the difference of bone cement distribution index between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). The NRS score, ODI, and Cobb angle of injured vertebra in both groups were significantly improved at 1 day after operation when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the difference of the above indexes between the two groups before and after operation (P>0.05). Conclusion TiRobot-assisted unilateral PKP in the treatment of OVCF of thoracic vertebrae is safe and effective, which can reduce the X-ray transmission times during operation, shorten the operation time, reduce the volume of bone cement injection, and thus decrease incidence of bone cement leakage.
ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of robot assisted and C-arm assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of single/double-segment osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).MethodsThe clinical data of 108 cases of single/double-segment OVCF who met the selection criteria between May 2018 and October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 65 cases of single-segment fractures, of which 38 cases underwent “TiRobot” orthopedic robot-assisted PKP (robot group), 27 cases underwent C-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy-assisted PKP (C-arm group). There were 43 cases of double-segment fractures, including 21 cases in robot group and 22 cases in C-arm group. There was no significant difference in gender, age, T value of bone mineral density, fracture segment distribution, time from injury to operation, and preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, vertebral kyphosis angle (VKA), and height of fractured vertebra (HFV) in the patients with single/double-segments fractures between robot group and C-arm group (P>0.05). The operation time, the fluoroscopy frequency of the surgeons and the patient, the fluoroscopy exposure time of the surgeons and the patient, the radiation dose of the C-arm; the VAS scores, VKA, HFV before operation, at 1 day and 6 months after operation; and the complications in the two groups were recorded and compared.ResultsAll patients underwent surgery successfully. The operation time of the single-segment robot group was significantly longer than that of the C-arm group (t=5.514, P=0.000), while the operation time of the double-segment robot group was not significantly different from that of the C-arm group (t=1.892, P=0.205). The single/double-segment robot group required three-dimensional scanning, so the fluoroscopy frequency, fluoroscopy exposure time, and radiation dose of C-arm received by the patient were significantly higher than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05); the fluoroscopy frequency and the fluoroscopy exposure time received by the surgeons were significantly less than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05). There was no infection, embolism, neurological injury, and adjacent segmental fractures. The single/double-segment robot group showed lower rate of cement leakage when compared with the C-arm group (P<0.05), all the cases of cement leakage happened outside the spinal canal. The VAS score, VKA, and HFV of the single/double-segment robot group and the C-arm group were significantly improved at 1 day and 6 months after operation (P<0.05), and the VAS score at 6 months after operation was further improved compared with that at 1 day after operation (P<0.05). At 1 day and 6 months after operation, there was no significant difference in VAS score between the single/double-segment robot group and the C-arm group (P>0.05). The VKA and HFV of robot group were significantly better than those of the C-arm group (P<0.05).ConclusionFor single/double-segment OVCF, robot assisted PKP has more advantages in correcting VKA and HFV, reducing fluoroscopy exposure of surgeons and bone cement leakage rate; C-arm assisted PKP has more advantages in reducing the operation time of single-segment OVCF and fluoroscopy exposure of patients during operation.
Objective
To research the feasibility and effectiveness of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) by improved injecting tube through unipedicular puncturing.
Methods
Between January 2012 and Junuary 2016, 60 cases (68 vertebrae) of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) were treated. PKP was performed through unipedicular puncturing with routine injecting tube in 30 cases (34 vertebrae, routine group), and with improved injecting tube in 30 cases (34 vertebrae, improved group). There was no significant difference in age, gender, disease duration, fracture level, preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), or vertebral height between 2 groups (P>0.05). The operation time, the volume of bone cement injected, preoperative and postoperative VAS, and preoperative and postoperative vertebral height, and postoperative distribution coefficient of bone cement were recorded and compared between 2 groups.
Results
Good healing of puncture points was achieved in 2 groups after PKP, and no serious complication occurred. There was no significant difference in operation time and the volum of bone cement injected between 2 groups (t=0.851,P=0.399;t=1.672,P=0.101). Bone cement leakage was observed in 2 cases of 2 groups respectively. The distribution coefficient of bone cement in routine group was significantly less than that in improved group (t=13.049,P=0.000). All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 19 months). The postoperative VAS and vertebral height were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones in 2 groups (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in VAS between at 2 days after operation and at last follow-up, in vertebral height between at 2 days after operation and at 1 year after operation, and between 2 groups after operation (P>0.05). X-ray films showed vertebral compression fractures in 6 cases of routine group and in 1 case of improved group during follow-up.
Conclusion
PKP by improved injecting tube through unipedicular puncturing can improve the distribution of bone cement, restore the height and strength of vertebral body, and reduce the incidence of re-fracture.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness of synchronous unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of double noncontiguous thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). MethodsBetween December 2018 and September 2020, 27 patients with double noncontiguous thoracolumbar OVCF were treated by synchronous unilateral PKP. There were 11 males and 16 females, with an average age of 75.4 years (range, 66-92 years). The fractures were caused by falls in 22 cases and sprains in 5 cases. The time from injury to hospital admission was 0.5-7.0 days, with an average of 2.1 days. The fractured vertebrae located at T9 in 2 cases, T10 in 3 cases, T11 in 10 cases, T12 in 15 cases, L1 in 12 cases, L2 in 6 cases, L3 in 4 cases, and L4 in 2 cases. The volume of bone cement injected into each vertebral body, operation time, and intraoperative fluoroscopy times were recorded. Anteroposterior and lateral X-ray films of thoracolumbar spine were taken to observe the anterior height of the injured vertebra, the Cobb angle of kyphosis, and the diffusion and good distribution rate of bone cement in the thoracolumbar spine. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate the pain and functional improvement. ResultsAll operations completed successfully. The operation time was 34-70 minutes, with an average of 45.4 minutes. The intraoperative fluoroscopy was 21- 60 times, with an average of 38.6 times. The volume of bone cement injected into each vertebral body was 2-9 mL, with an average of 4.3 mL. All patients were followed up 6-21 months, with an average of 11.3 months. X-ray film reexamination showed that the anterior height of the injured vertebra and Cobb angle at each time point after operation were significantly improved than those before operation (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between different time points after operation (P>0.05). The distribution of bone cement was excellent in 40 vertebral bodies, good in 13 vertebral bodies, and poor in 1 vertebral body, and the excellent and good rate was 98.1% (53/54). The pain of all patients significantly relieved or disappeared, and the function improved. The VAS score and ODI at each time point after operation were significantly lower than those before operation (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between different time points after operation (P>0.05).ConclusionFor the double noncontiguous thoracolumbar OVCF, the synchronous unilateral PKP has the advantages of simple puncture, less trauma, less intraoperative fluoroscopy, shorter operation time, satisfactory distribution of bone cement, etc. It can restore the height of the vertebral body, correct the kyphotic angle, significantly alleviate the pain, and improve the function.
