CHEN Xiao-ming, MA Hua-song, WANG Meng, YANG Bin and YUAN Wei

For the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs), percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) enables rapid pain relief and spinal stabilization, as well as correction of kyphosis. Although serious complications such as pulmonary embolism and spinal cord and nerve damage may occur,1 recurrence of pain after PKP is unlikely to require medical attention. The present study analyzed the causes of post-operative residual pain by reviewing the clinical data of 16 from 121 patients with OVCFs who underwent PKP from August 2005 to April 2009.
METHODS
General information
Sixteen patients (5 men and 11 women) were included in this study. Their mean age was 70.4 years (range 65–80 years) and the average duration of disease was 2.2 months (range 1–6 months). The patients had thoracolumbar pain with limited movement and difficulty turning their bodies over after surgery. The main manifestations included tenderness and percussion pain at the site of spinal pain without radiating pain. Bilateral lower limb sensory and motor functions were normal. Conservative therapy comprising bed rest and antiosteoporosis treatment for 1–3 months (mean 1.4 months) had poor efficacy. None of the patients had signs or symptoms related to the spinal cord. Preoperative examination revealed no surgical contraindications.