Clinical Outcomes

• Significant pain relief
• Increased mobility
• Improved overall quality of life
• Low complication rate

The Vertos II study conducted by C Klazen, P Lohle, J de Vries, et al ^[1] found vertebroplasty to be safe, effective, and at an acceptable cost for patients with acute osteoporotic VCFs. Additionally, the study concluded that vertebroplasty gives greater pain relief than conservative treatments.

A study by ME Jensen, AJ Evans, JM Mathis, DF Kallmes, HJ Cloft, and JE Dion^[2] showed that 90% of patients (29 patients with 47 fractures) suffering from age-related or steroid-induced osteoporosis experienced pain relief and improved mobility at 24 hours post-vertebroplasty.

An open prospective study by B Cortet, A Cotton, N Bourtry, RM Flipo, B Duquesnoy, and P Chastanet^[3] reported significant pain reduction and improvement in health profile scores of 16 patients treated at 20 vertebral levels.

A third study by A Cotton, F Dewatre, B Cortet, R Assaker, D Leblond, and B Duquesnoy^[4] described complete or partial pain relief in 97% of patients who were treated for painful metastasis (29 patients) and multiple myeloma (8 patients).

Results of a study^[5] on percutaneous vertebroplasty in 231 patients showed a 90% success rate in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and an 80% success rate in painful or unstable neoplastic lesions and vertebral hemangiomas.

A Mayo Clinic study^[6] concluded that patients (113 patients were treated at 164 vertebral levels) who underwent vertebroplasty experienced relief of back pain and symptoms, as shown by improvement in verbal pain and RDQ (Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire) scores. The RDQ correlates well with measures of pain, shows clinically significant improvement, and is responsive to changes across time. Prior to treatment, the average RDQ score was 18 on a scale of 23. The RDQ dropped to an average score of 11 immediately after treatment and remained at that level throughout the year-long study.