[Treatment of uncomplicated vertebral compression fractures].

Unlabelled: According to statistical studies in different countries, the annual incidence of spine and spinal cord injuries is 15-50 cases per 1 million people. In Russia, the incidence of this condition is 5% of the total number of all nonpenetrating traumatic injuries (Neurosurgery: Guidelines for Physicians, ed. by Prof. ON Dreval', 2013). According to the WHO reports, approximately 500,000 people annually experience spine injuries worldwide. Acute spine injuries make up 23.7% of all spinal traumas and include contusions (2.67%), injuries to the capsular ligamentous apparatus (3.88%), fractures and dislocations (7.63%), and muscle injury (9.52%). In males, the risk of experiencing a spine injury is the highest at the age of 20-29 and above 70 years, while in women this risk is the highest at an age of 15-19 and above 60 years. According to the studies, this risk is characterized by an at least 2:1 ratio between adult males and females.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of surgical (vertebroplasty) and conservative treatment in management of pain syndrome in patients with uncomplicated spine injury.

Material And Methods: The study involved 60 patients with stable uncomplicated compression fractures of vertebral bodies in the thoracic and lumbosacral spine. These patients were subdivided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 30 patients who had undergone unilateral transpedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty; Group 2 involved 30 patients who had undergone a course of conservative treatment. The medical records and the catamnestic follow-up data of patients treated at the Neurosurgery Department of the Research Clinical Center of JSC Russian Railways in 2015-2017 were analyzed for this purpose.

Results: No statistically significant differences in sex, age, and level of injury were revealed between the study groups. A comparative analysis of treatment outcomes demonstrated that pain intensity assessed using the VAS scale was significantly reduced after one-year follow-up in both groups as compared to the baseline. A statistically significant decrease in pain intensity in the group of patients who had undergone vertebroplasty was observed as early as one month after the injury. No significant intergroup differences were observed in the long-term follow-up period (3 and 6 months) for this parameter. In five out of 60 patients, examination 12 months after the injury revealed that vertebral body height decreased by up to 10%. No statistically significant correlation with the treatment method was observed.

Conclusion: Vertebroplasty provides a statistically better pain relief during the first month after spine injury as compared to conservative treatment. For patients, this means earlier activization and quicker return to daily routines and work.