Abstract
Cases in which limitations of ADL or re-compression during the long-term course, and persistent low-back pain are occasionally seen after fixation in a hyperextension cast is performed for fresh vertebral compression fractures. Between September 2003 and August 2005 vertebroplasty by filling with calcium phosphate cement (CPC) was performed in the thoracolumbar spine as a means of prevention on 53 vertebrae in 50 cases of compression fractures. The patients were 10 men and 40 women, and their mean age was 74.7 years (39-88 years). The vertebral compression rate decreased from 38.7% before surgery to 13.9% immediately after surgery, and at the time of the final examination a moderate loss of 25.9% was observed, but bone union had cccurred in every case. Pain decreased markedly during the postoperative course, and at the time of the final examination ADL had recovered to the pre injury level in all of the patients. This method of treating vertebral compression fractures was superior in terms of its early pain eliminating effect and was able to stop the progression of vertebral compression, and it appeared to be an excellent method of treatment.
