Purpose: The aim of the study is to investigate the clinical and radiological outcomes of vertebral compression fractures treated by stentoplasty with resorbable calcium salt bone void fillers compared with balloon kyphoplasty (BKP).
Methods: This prospective study included patients with fresh mono-thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures. Patients enrolled were randomly divided into three groups. The patients in group A underwent stentoplasty with calcium sulfate/calcium phosphate (CSCP) composite filler and patients in group B with hydroxyapatite/collagen (HAP/COL) composite filler, while patients in group C underwent BKP with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The clinical outcome was evaluated with visual analogue pain scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability score (ODI). The radiological results were evaluated with anterior height (AH) and Cobb angle of vertebral body. Computed tomography (CT) was used to assess osteogenesis effect.
Results: Each group included 14 patients. The VAS, ODI, Cobb angle and AH were statistically improved compared with preoperative and there was no significant difference between the three groups. However, the AH in group A and group B at 1-year follow-up presented slight loss compared with 1 day after surgery. CT results suggested both group A and group B presented obvious bone trabecula formation and variations of CT value.
Conclusion: The stentoplasty with resorbable calcium salt bone void fillers demonstrated clinical outcomes similar to traditional BKP for vertebral compression fractures. Both HAP/COL and CSCP performed certain osteogenesis. However, stentoplasty with studied fillers showed slight loss of AH within 1 year after surgery.
Keywords: stentoplasty, vertebral compression fracture, filler material, bone fillers, osteogenesis