Clinical feature and perioperative complication for osteoporotic vertebral fracture in thoraco-lumbar spine comparison with middle-lower lumbar spine

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feature and perioperative complication of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) in thoraco-lumbar transitional vertebra (T group) compared to middle-lower lumbar vertebra (L group).

Materials and Methods: 38 patients (13 men and 25 women) with OVF in T group (20 cases) and L group (18 cases) were evaluated in this study from 2010 to 2017. The mean age of patients was 76.9 years, and the mean follow-up period was 29.5 months.

Results: Lumbar degenerative disease was significantly observed in L group (13 cases) compared with T group (5 cases) (P<0.05). Surgical date was not significantly different in the average of operative time (T: 235 min, L: 260 min) and which of blood loss (T: 544 ml, L: 602 ml) and which of fusion range (T: 5 levels, L: 4.4 levels). Perioperative complications (T: 9 cases, L: 8 cases) and additional surgery (T: 2 cases, L: 5 cases) were not significantly different. Middle-column injury was significantly observed in T group (16 cases) compared with L group (9 cases) (P<0.05). The mean correction angle (T: 14.7°, L: 20.7°) and the mean loss of correction angle (T: 7.6°, L: 11°) were not significantly different. Preoperative neurological deficits (T: 13 cases, L: 10 cases) and postoperative neurological improvements (T: 13 cases, L: 8 cases) were not significantly different.

Conclusion: It was suggested that the cause of neurological deficit following OVF in T group was due to the vertebral fracture site and which in L group was due to the intervertebral site adjacent to OVF besides fracture site.