Spinal Reconstruction Surgery for Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures

Abstract

Amidst the rising elderly demographic, osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) have become a common condition that orthopedic surgeons in Japan encounter on a daily basis. Most cases are treated conservatively to achieve bony union and improve symptoms, but vertebral collapse and kyphotic deformities can cause neurological deficit and persistent pain, requiring spinal reconstruction surgery, such as anterior spinal column reconstruction and long-extent fixation including the fracture site.

In Japan, the spine reconstruction techniques for OVF include anterior spinal fusion, vertebroplasty combined with posterior spinal fusion (PSF), three-column osteotomy combined with PSF and combined anterior/posterior spinal fusion, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

This paper described the overview of spinal reconstruction surgery for OVF and mentioned the selection of surgical techniques and the extent of fixation required.