A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis Investigating the Effect of Timing of Vertebral Augmentation on Pain Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Approximately 700,000 individuals experience osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) every year in the United States. Chronic complications from patients and increasing economic burdens continue to be major problems with OVCFs. Multiple treatment options for OVCF are available, including conservative management, surgical intervention, and minimally invasive vertebral augmentation. Prior studies have investigated the utility of vertebral augmentation techniques such as percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), balloon vertebroplasty (BVP), and vertebral augmentation with the KivaTM implant on patient mortality with favorable results. The optimal time from OVCF occurrence to vertebral augmentation continues to be a topic of investigation.

OBJECTIVES

To further investigate the effect of the timing of vertebral augmentation on pain outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective cohort chart review study.

SETTING

A single academic center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

METHODS

One hundred twenty-six consecutive patient encounters with OVCF diagnosed on imaging and treated with PVP, BVP, or vertebral augmentation with a KivaTM implant between 01/01/2004 and 11/28/2016 were analyzed. The time between fracture and intervention was categorized into < 6 weeks, 6-12 weeks, and >= 12 weeks. Pain scores were measured before and after treatment using the numeric pain rating scale. Statistical analysis using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used as appropriate, and effect sizes were described with the Hodges-Lehmann estimates of difference.

RESULTS

The 3 vertebral augmentation procedures compared in this study did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in pain score reduction (P = 0.949). The < 12 weeks group had a median and interquartile range (IQR) pain improvement of 3 (IQR 1,6) versus 1 (IQR 0,4) in the >= 12 weeks group (P = 0.018). Further analysis showed that the median and IQR pain improvement for the < 6 weeks group was 3 (IQR 1,7), for the 6-12 weeks group was 3 (IQR 1,4), and for the >= 12 weeks group was 1 (IQR 0,4). The overall effect of the time category on pain improvement was statistically significant for these groups (P = 0.040). Comparisons between groups only showed differences between the < 6 weeks and >= 12 weeks groups (P = 0.013), with an estimated median difference of 2 (95% CI 0,3). There was no statistically significant relationship between fill percentage and pain relief (P = 0.291).

LIMITATIONS

This is a retrospective cohort study from a single academic center with a limited sample size that lacked a control group and procedural blinding. There was also substantial heterogeneity among patients, fractures, operators, and techniques. Pain relief outcomes are subjective and can be biased by patients as well as physician reporting.

CONCLUSIONS

Early intervention (< 12 weeks) with vertebral augmentation in patients with OVCF is associated with improved pain scores when compared to later intervention (> 12 weeks). Very early intervention (< 6 weeks) confers a greater advantage when compared to later intervention (> 12 weeks).

Utilization and Expenditures of Vertebral Augmentation Continue to Decline: An Analysis in Fee-For-Service (FFS) Recipients from 2009 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Despite the high prevalence of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) associated with refractory pain, deformity, or progressive neurological symptoms, minimally invasive vertebral augmentation procedures, including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, have been declining in their relative utilization, along with expenditures.

OBJECTIVES

This investigation was undertaken to assess utilization and expenditures for vertebral augmentation procedures, including vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, in the fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare population from 2009 to 2018.

STUDY DESIGN

The present study was designed to assess utilization and expenditures in all settings, for all providers in the FFS Medicare population from 2009 to 2018 in the United States. In this manuscript:• A patient was described as receiving vertebral augmentation over the course of the year.• An episode was considered as one treatment per region per day utilizing primary codes only. • Services or procedures were considered to be procedures including multiple levels.A standard 5% national sample of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) physician outpatient billing claims data for those enrolled in the FFS Medicare program from 2009 to 2018 was utilized. All the expenditures were presented with allowed costs and adjusted for inflation to 2018 US dollars.

RESULTS

In 2009, there were 76,860 episodes of vertebral augmentation with a rate of 168 per 100,000 Medicare population, which declined to 58,760, or 99 per 100,000 population for a total decline of 41%, or an annual rate of decline of 5.7% per 100,000 Medicare population. Vertebroplasty interventions declined more dramatically than kyphoplasty from 2009. Total episodes of vertebroplasty were 27,380 with an annual rate of 60 per 100,000 Medicare population, decreasing to 9,240, or 16 per 100,000 Medicare population, a 66% decline in episodes and a 74% decline in overall rate with an annual decline of 11.4% and 13.9%. In contrast, kyphoplasty interventions were 49,480, for a rate per 100,000 population of 108 in 2009 compared to 49,520 in 2018 with a rate of 83, for a decrease of 23% and 2.9% annual decrease. Evaluation of expenditures showed a net decrease of $30,102,809, or 8%, from $378,758,311 in 2009 to $348,655,502 in 2018. However, inflation-adjusted expenditures decreased overall by 21% and 3% annually from $443,147,324 in 2009 to $345,655,502 in 2018. In addition, inflation-adjusted total expenditures per 100,000 Medicare population decreased from $967,549 to $584,992, for an overall decrease of 40%, or an annual decrease of 5%. Per patient expenditures decreased 2% overall with 0% decrease per year.

LIMITATIONS

Vertebral augmentation procedures were assessed only in the FFS Medicare service population. This excluded over 30% of the Medicare population, which is enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a significant decline in relative utilization patterns of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures, along with reductions in overall expenditures. The inflation-adjusted total expenditures of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty decreased 21% with an annual decline of 3%. The inflation-adjusted expenditures per 100,000 of Medicare population decreased 40% overall and 5% per year. In addition, vertebroplasty has seen substantial declines in utilization and expenditure patterns compared to kyphoplasty procedures, which showed trends of decline.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Using a Rotary Cutter for Treating Kümmell's Disease with Intravertebral Vacuum Cleft

BACKGROUND

Reported data indicate that the curative effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) on the patients with intravertebral vacuum cleft (IVC) is worse than on those without IVC.

OBJECTIVES

This study was to prospectively investigate the advantage of rotary cutter-PVP (RC-PVP) in patients with Kümmell's disease with IVC.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective outcome study.

SETTING

A tertiary care hospital.

METHODS

Patients who underwent conventional PVP served as the control group. For the RC-PVP group, the rotary cutters were applied before the cement injection to destroy the IVC structure and the surrounding necrotic bone. The following data were compared between the two groups: the cement filling patterns, effective therapeutic rate, the pre- to post-procedural changes of spinal geometry, and the subsequent fractures.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 64 patients (30 and 34 patients in RC-PVP group and control group, respectively). In the RC-PVP group, the cement in 26 cases was filled as a mixed pattern, while the filling pattern in the control group was mainly the cystic type (n = 31). There were no significant differences in the height restoration rate between the RC-PVP and control groups (32.7 ± 13.6 and 32.4 ± 13.9, respectively, P = 0.93). The RC-PVP group had a higher effective rate during the first week and the first month (93.3% vs. 70.6%, P = 0.02) and at 3 months (90.4% vs. 73.9%, P = 0.03). Long-term follow-up indicated that vertebral recollapse of the same treated vertebral body occurred in 5 patients after conventional PVP, which was not observed in the RC-PVP group.

LIMITATIONS

The small number of included patients and no long-term follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

RC-PVP, with the destruction of IVC, may lead to better clinical outcomes with fewer complications.

Percutaneous Vertebroplasty Versus Kyphoplasty for Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures in Patients with Distant Lumbosacral Pain

BACKGROUND

In clinical practice, we have found that the pain caused by thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is sometimes not limited to the level of the fractured vertebrae but instead occurs in areas far away from the injured vertebrae, such as the lower back, area surrounding the iliac crest, or buttocks, and this type of pain is known as distant lumbosacral pain. The pathogenesis of pain in distant regions caused by thoracolumbar OVCF remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the clinical efficacy and imaging outcomes of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) in the treatment of distant lumbosacral pain accompanied by thoracolumbar OVCF and to explore the possible pathogenesis of distant lumbosacral pain caused by thoracolumbar OVCF.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

A university hospital spinal surgery departments.

METHODS

A total of 62 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation for thoracolumbar OVCF with lumbosacral pain were included and divided into the PVP group (28 cases) and the PKP group (34 cases). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the severity of local and distant lumbosacral pain, and the Chinese modified Oswestry Disability Index (CMODI) was used for functional assessment. The anterior vertebral height (AVH) of the fractured vertebrae and local kyphotic angle were measured on plain radiographs. The average follow-up time was 28.62 ± 8.43 months in the PVP group and 29.22 ± 9.09 months in the PKP group.

RESULTS

Within the 2 groups, the VAS score of local pain, VAS score of distant lumbosacral pain, and CMODI score at 3 days postoperatively and at the last follow-up improved significantly compared with the scores before surgery. However, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. At 3 days postoperatively and at last follow-up, the AVH and Cobb angle in the 2 groups improved significantly compared with those before surgery, but the magnitudes of AVH improvement and Cobb angle correction were significantly larger in the PKP group than in the PVP group.

LIMITATIONS

First, this study is retrospective and may be prone to selection bias. Second, because of cultural and linguistic differences, the original version of the Oswestry Disability Index could not be properly understood and completed by people in mainland China. Therefore in this study, the CMODI was used, but the correlation coefficients of the CMODI within and between groups were 0.953 and 0.912, respectively. Third, a pain diagram was not used to accurately reflect the location of pain in the distant lumbosacral region.

CONCLUSIONS

Both PVP and PKP can effectively alleviate pain in the distant lumbosacral region caused by thoracolumbar OVCF, and distant lumbosacral pain associated with thoracolumbar OVCF may be considered vertebrogenic referred pain.

Minding the Gap in Vertebroplasty: Vertebral Body Fracture Clefts and Cement Nonunion

BACKGROUND

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are leading treatments for patients with vertebral body compression fractures. Although cement augmentation has been shown to help relieve pain and instability from fractures containing a cleft, there is some controversy in the literature regarding the procedure's efficacy in these cases. Additionally, some of the literature blurs the distinction between clefts and cement patterns (including cement nonunion and cement fill pattern). Both clefts and cement patterns have been mentioned in the literature as risks for poorer outcomes following cement augmentation, which can result in complications such as cement migration.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to identify the prevalence of fracture clefts and cement nonunion, the relationship between them as well as to cement fill pattern, and their association with demographics and other variables related to technique and outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Interventional radiology department at a single site university hospital.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study assessed 295 vertebroplasties/kyphoplasties performed at the University of Colorado Hospital from 2008 to 2018. Vertebral fracture cleft and cement nonunion were the main variables of interest. Presence and characterization of a fracture cleft was determined on pre-procedural imaging, defined as an air or fluid filled cavity within the fractured vertebral body on magnetic resonance or computed tomography. Cement nonunion was evaluated on post-procedural imaging, defined as air or fluid surrounding the cement bolus on magnetic resonance or computed tomography or imaging evidence of cement migration. Cement fill pattern was assessed on procedural and/or post-procedural imaging. Pain improvement scores were based on a visual analog score immediately prior to the procedure and during clinical visits in the short-term follow-up period. Additional patient demographics, medical history, and procedure details were obtained from electronic medical chart review.

RESULTS

Pre-procedural vertebral fracture clefts were demonstrated in 29.8% of our cases. Increasing age, secondary osteoporosis, and thoracolumbar junction location were associated with increased odds of clefts. There was no significant difference in pain improvement outcomes in patients following cement augmentation between clefted and non-clefted compression fractures. Clefts, especially large clefts, and cleft-only fill pattern were associated with increased odds of cement nonunion. Procedure techniques (vertebroplasty, curette, and balloon kyphoplasty) demonstrated similar proportion of cement nonunion and distribution of cement fill pattern.

LIMITATIONS

Cement nonunion was observed in only 6.8% of cases. Due to this low proportion, statistical inference tends to have low power. Multiple levels were treated in nearly half of the study's patients undergoing a single vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty session; in these cases, each level was treated as independent rather than spatially correlated within the same study patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Vertebral body fracture clefts are not uncommon and are related to (but distinct from) cement nonunion and cement fill patterns. Our study shows that, although patients with clefts will benefit from cement augmentation just as much as patients without a cleft, the performing provider should take note of cement fill and take extra steps to ensure optimal cement fill. These providers should also identify cement nonunion and associated complications (such as cement migration) on follow-up imaging.

Single Level Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Hemangiomata - A Review of Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive technique to treat patients with symptomatic vertebral hermangiomata.

OBJECTIVES

We present a single-operator series of cases to demonstrate the clinical outcomes and complication profiles for this technique.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective multi-center cohort study.

SETTING

Procedures were performed across multiple hospitals in Italy by a single proceduralist.

METHODS

All patients with symptomatic vertebral hermangiomata that had percutaneous vertebroplasty over a 14-year period (March 1999 to April 2013) by a single proceduralist were included in this study. Information collected included demographic data, vertebral level of intervention, cement volume used, and the Visual Analogue Score for pain that was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Patients were followed up for a minimum of one year.

RESULTS

Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed for 50 patients. All patients had an improvement in pain, with 39 patients (78%) reporting complete pain relief. A unipedicular approach was undertaken in 41 cases (82%), and bipedicular approach in 8 patients (16%), while a transoral approach was used in one patient. The mean cement volume per vertebral level was 6.8 mL (1 - 18 mL). Recurrent symptoms occurred in 2 patients (4%) requiring repeat vertebroplasty. There were no cases of symptomatic cement leak, and no cases of procedural morbidity or mortality.

LIMITATIONS

As a multicenter study conducted over a 14-year time period, there may be heterogeneity in procedural technique and rehabilitation protocols. There were no cases of cement leakage in our study, which could be an underreporting of cases. This is could be due to none of our patients receiving a post procedural computerized tomography scan, which is more sensitive in detecting cement leakage when compared to procedural fluoroscopy.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is associated with good post-procedural outcomes in patients with vertebral hermangiomata. Complications such as neurological injury and cement leakages are rare.