Two kinds of posterior approach for Kümmell's disease after osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture

ObjectiveTo compare the surgical results of two kinds of posterior approach for osteoporotic thoracolumbar Kümmell's disease.MethodsClinical and radiographic results of 1-seg-mental pedicle screw fixation combined with vertebroplasty (Group A, n=12) or posterior shortening osteotomy (Group B, n=16) for osteoporotic thoracolumbar Kümmell's disease were analyzed retrospectively. Japanese orthopedic association (JOA) and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were used for clinical evaluation. Neurological status was judged by Frankel grades. X-ray was used to evaluate the radiographic results. Complications related to operation and devices were also considered.ResultsThe follow-up period was 12–54 months (average 29 months). Pre- and post-operative VAS were 9.3 and 3.2 in Group A, 8.9 and 2.5 in Group B, respectively. The mean JOA score at the final follow-up was significantly higher than that of pre-operation (/=5.306, P<0.001). There was no significant difference between Groups A and B (t=0.618, P>0.05). The kyphosis were corrected from preoperative 33.9°(A)/37.3°(B) to postoperative 10.3°(A)/6.5°(B), and 15.3° (A)/13.7° (B) at the final follow-up. There was a significant difference between the two groups at the final follow-up. Frankel grade was improved from grade C preoperatively to postoperatively grade D or E in 7 cases of Group A and 5 cases of Group B, from grade D to E in 5 cases of Group A and 11 cases of Group B. The mean improvement was 1.6 and 1.7 grades for Groups A and B, respectively. There were no serious complications related to internal fixation.ConclusionsThe similar clinical results can be obtained by the two kinds of posterior surgical methods for osteoporotic Kümmell's disease. Posterior spinal shortening is a better choice for patients with serious kyphosis combined with neurological deficit than the other.