Morphologic change in vertebral body after percutaneous vertebroplasty: Follow-Up with MDCT

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate maintenance of spinal canal size and restoration of vertebral height and wedge angle after percutaneous vertebroplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. This study included 27 patients (19 women, eight men) with osteoporotic compression fractures (52 vertebrae). MDCT with multiplanar reformation was performed within 1 day before and 1 hour after the procedure and 1 year after the procedure on a routine or as-needed basis. The degree of retropulsion, smallest size of the spinal canal, and vertebral height and wedge angle were measured. Statistical analyses were performed with the paired Student's t and Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS. There were no statistically significant differences in degree of retropulsion or size of the spinal canal before and after treatment and at the follow-up evaluation (p > 0.05). Even in the 36 vertebrae with spinal canal compromise before the procedure, there was no significant change in spinal stenosis (p > 0.05). Vertebral height and wedge angle were restored immediately after treatment (1.2 mm and 2.8°, p < 0.05). These restorations were more prominent in vertebrae with fracture clefts than in those without clefts (p < 0.05). Restoration of vertebral height and wedge angle were diminished, but the preprocedure results were maintained in follow-up (0.4 mm and 1.1°, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION. Vertebroplasty can maintain vertebral height and wedge angle and spinal canal size at least 1 year after treatment.