Safety and Efficacy Study of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Painful Acute Osteoporotic Spine Fractures

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is now a therapeutic option for individuals for whom medical management has not been successful or for those who are at risk for developing complications due to long-term immobilization. Recently, three randomized controlled trials (RCT) concerning PVP have been published with conflicting results. Two RCTs with a sham control intervention failed to show an advantage of vertebroplasty over placebo for participants with acute, subacute, and chronic fractures or severe pain. In the third RCT, PVP compared to optimal conservative treatment showed significant immediate postoperative pain relief in the vertebroplasty group, but not at 3 and 12 months. To examine these issues, this study is initiated to compare PVP with conservative therapy in patients with osteoporotic VCFs. Moreover, this study addresses concerns about the possibility that PVP increases the incidence of new compression fractures in adjacent vertebrae.

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVCFs) are common in the elderly population, with an estimated 1.4 million new fractures occurring every year worldwide. Patients may present with pain and frequently require hospital admission for analgesia, bed rest, and physical support (bracing). While their back pain may last for 6-12 weeks, complications such as pneumonia, decubitus ulcers, venous thromboembolism, and even death may occur. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is now a therapeutic option for individuals for whom medical management has not been successful or for those who are at risk for developing complications due to long-term immobilization. Recently, three randomized controlled trials (RCT) concerning PVP have been published with conflicting results. So this study is to compare PVP with conservative therapy in patients with osteoporotic VCFs. Moreover, this study addresses concerns about the possibility that PVP increases the incidence of new compression fractures in adjacent vertebrae.

This study is a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), Participants in this study will be allocated randomly to PVP or conservative treatment.All Participants will be asked to fill out standard questionnaires to provide clinical information at baseline (the day of randomization), and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the treatment. Cross-over will not be offered before 12 months after randomization. All standard questionnaires (except the 1-day questionnaire) consist of the VAS score, Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO), EQ-5D, and Roland-Morris Disability (RMD) Questionnaire. Furthermore,additional questions about pain treatment, hospital stay, outpatient visits,medical aids, and medical costs will be completed with the help of a nurse practitioner.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 50 Years and older
* have a confirmed diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia.
* acute, painful OVCFs from T4-L5
* clinical onset \< 6 weeks
* vertebral compression fracture on spine radiograph (minimum 15% height loss)
* Visual Analogue Scale \[VAS\] score ≥ 4 for pain

Exclusion Criteria:

* severe cardio-pulmonary condition
* untreatable coagulopathy
* active local or systemic infection
* current malignancy, or radicular or caudal compression syndrome