Morphometric measurements can improve prediction of progressive vertebral deformity following vertebral damage.

Purpose: A damaged vertebral body can exhibit accelerated 'creep' under constant load, leading to progressive vertebral deformity. However, the risk of this happening is not easy to predict in clinical practice. The present cadaveric study aimed to identify morphometric measurements in a damaged vertebral body that can predict a susceptibility to accelerated creep.

A predictive model for creep deformation following vertebral compression fractures.

Many vertebral compression fractures continue to collapse over time, resulting in spinal deformity and chronic back pain. Currently, there is no adequate screening strategy to identify patients at risk of progressive vertebral collapse. This study developed a mathematical model to describe the quantitative relationship between initial bone damage and progressive ("creep") deformation in human vertebrae.

How are adjacent spinal levels affected by vertebral fracture and by vertebroplasty? A biomechanical study on cadaveric spines.

Background Context: Spinal injuries and surgery may have important effects on neighboring spinal levels, but previous investigations of adjacent-level biomechanics have produced conflicting results. We use "stress profilometry" and noncontact strain measurements to investigate thoroughly this long-standing problem.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine how vertebral fracture and vertebroplasty affect compressive load-sharing and vertebral deformations at adjacent spinal levels.

Is kyphoplasty better than vertebroplasty at restoring form and function after severe vertebral wedge fractures?

Background Context: The vertebral augmentation procedures, vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, can relieve pain and facilitate mobilization of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Kyphoplasty also aims to restore vertebral body height before cement injection and so may be advantageous for more severe fractures.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty to restore vertebral height, shape, and mechanical function after severe vertebral wedge fractures.

Vertebroplasty: only small cement volumes are required to normalize stress distributions on the vertebral bodies.

STUDY DESIGN.: Biomechanical study of vertebroplasty in cadaver motion segments. OBJECTIVES.

Is kyphoplasty better than vertebroplasty in restoring normal mechanical function to an injured spine?

Introduction: Kyphoplasty is gaining in popularity as a treatment for painful osteoporotic vertebral body fracture. It has the potential to restore vertebral shape and reduce spinal deformity, but the actual clinical and mechanical benefits of kyphoplasty remain unclear. In a cadaveric study, we compare the ability of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty to restore spine mechanical function, and vertebral body shape, following vertebral fracture.

A randomized trial of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic spinal fractures.

Background: Vertebroplasty is commonly used to treat painful, osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

Methods: In this multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 131 patients who had one to three painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures to undergo either vertebroplasty or a simulated procedure without cement (control group). The primary outcomes were scores on the modified Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) (on a scale of 0 to 23, with higher scores indicating greater disability) and patients' ratings of average pain intensity during the preceding 24 hours at 1 month (on a scale of 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating more severe pain).

Mechanical efficacy of vertebroplasty: influence of cement type, BMD, fracture severity, and disc degeneration.

Introduction: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures can be treated by injecting bone cement into the damaged vertebral body. "Vertebroplasty" is becoming popular but the procedure has yet to be optimised. This study compared the ability of two different types of cement to restore the spine's mechanical properties following fracture, and it examined how the mechanical efficacy of vertebroplasty depends on bone mineral density (BMD), fracture severity, and disc degeneration.

Can vertebroplasty restore normal load-bearing to fractured vertebrae?

Study Design: Cadaver motion segments were used to evaluate the effects of vertebroplasty on spinal loading following vertebral fracture.

Objectives: To determine if vertebroplasty reverses fracture-induced changes in the distribution of compressive stress in cadaver motion segments.

Summary Of Background Data: Vertebroplasty involves reinforcement of vertebrae by injection of cement and is now being used increasingly to treat osteoporotic vertebral fractures.