Percutaneous Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty for Pathologic Vertebral Fractures in the Medicare Population: Safer and Less Expensive than Open Surgery

In a Medicare population with bony malignancy and vertebral fractures, percutaneous therapy predicted significantly reduced cost and length of stay versus surgery. Patients who underwent percutaneous therapy were significantly less likely to die, be transferred, or be discharged to rehabilitation facilities, and were more likely to be discharged to home or hospice.