Vertebral compression fractures: XXXX reduction and improvement in functional mobility after percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate vertebroplasty retrospective report of 245 cases.

@entity1 @entity4625 @entity158 @entity174
PURPOSE: To describe the immediate outcome of a large cohort of @entity1 who underwent percutaneous polymethylmethacrylate ( @entity4625 ) vertebroplasty for treatment of one or more @entity174 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included seven university-based and private hospitals in the United States. Of 488 consecutive @entity1 (mean age, 76 years) who underwent percutaneous @entity4625 vertebroplasty between 1996 and 1999, 245 were successfully interviewed retrospectively after vertebroplasty (median time, 7 months). Through telephone interview, @entity1 completed our self-developed questionnaire designed to measure @entity158 (10-point scale), ambulation (five-point scale), and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) (five-point scale) before and after vertebroplasty. Differences in reported @entity158 , ambulation, and ability to perform ADL before and after vertebroplasty were evaluated with paired t tests. Differences in proportions were compared with the McNemar test. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the consistency of differences in pre- and postprocedural @entity158 and functional status by @entity1 age, number of @entity174 , time from @entity174 to vertebroplasty, and time from vertebroplasty to questionnaire completion. RESULTS: On a 10-point scale, mean @entity158 decreased from 8.9 before vertebroplasty to 3.4 afterward (P <.001). Seventy-two percent of @entity1 had substantially impaired ambulation before vertebroplasty compared with 28% afterward (P <.001). Ability to perform ADL was also significantly improved following vertebroplasty (P <.001). Twelve @entity1 (4.9%) experienced symptomatic complications (none major or life threatening). CONCLUSION: Treatment of @entity174 with percutaneous @entity4625 vertebroplasty appears to be safe and results in substantial immediate @entity158 reduction and improved functional status. A randomized controlled trial appears warranted to assess the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty.
