Original Article
Early Balloon Kyphoplasty for Elderly Patients with Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures: The Effect of Timing on Quality of Life
2023 Volume 14 Issue 5 Pages 773-778
Details
2023 Volume 14 Issue 5 Pages 773-778
Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effect of early intervention of percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on the quality of life (QOL) of elderly patients.
Methods: Patients were eligible for BKP for thoracolumbar OVF if any of the following conditions were met within 4 weeks of injury: 1) extensive intravertebral low intensity or localized high intensity change on T2-weighted images, 2) extensive intravertebral low intensity on T1-weighted images, 3) progressive intravertebral compression or kyphosis, or 4) ADL limitation on conservative therapy. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale, time to postoperative discharge, and EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level Japanese version were compared between preoperative (including preinjury) values and postoperative values at 1, 6, and 12 months (p < 0.05).
Results: A total of 88 patients (16/72 male/female, mean age 80.7 years) completed the follow-up. Their bone density T score was −2.18. The mean time to BKP intervention after injury was 15.4 days, and postoperative discharge was 16.1 days. Postoperative Numeric Pain Rating Scale score improved significantly (p < 0.05). QOL at 1 month after surgery was similar to that before injury (p > 0.05) and was maintained until 12 months (p > 0.05). QOL of elderly patients aged >80 years was the same before injury and 1 month postoperatively (p > 0.05) and was maintained thereafter. However, in 13 patients (13/88, 14.8%) with postoperative secondary vertebral fractures, the EuroQol 5 dimensions 5-level score was significantly lower than before injury.
Conclusions: The impact of early intervention of BKP surgery for OVF on the QOL of the elderly was investigated. The results showed that even elderly patients aged >80 years were able to return to society early and maintain the same QOL as before the injury. However, postoperative secondary vertebral fractures affected the maintenance of QOL.
