Application of gelatin sponge debris pre-perfusion in percutaneous kyphoplasty for vertebral fracture with cortical rupture

Abstract

Objective To investigate the preventive effects of gelatin sponge debris pre-filling on bone cement leakage during percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for vertebral osteoporotic fracture with cortical bone rupture. Methods The data of 256 cases (294 segments) of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated with PKP from January 2014 to July 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 106 segments in 92 males and 188 segments in 164 females. In 119 cases, a total of 132 segments were pre-filled with gelatin sponge debris before bone cement injection. The average age was 74.4±7.7 years. In 137 cases, 162 segments were not pre-filled with gelatin sponge debris, with average age of 73.3±6.4 years. The incidences of cement leakage, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), the change of anterior vertebral height and kyphosis angle before and after operation were compared between the two groups. Results In gelatin sponge group, the incidence of cement leakage was 12.6% (15/119), including 3.4% (4/119), 0.8% (1/119), 1.7% (2/119), 5.0% (6/119) and 1.7% (2/119) of the endplate type, the lateral type, the anterior type, the posterior type and the mixed type. The incidence of cement leakage in non-gelatin sponge group was 23.4% (32/137), including 4.4% (6/137), 5.1% (7/137), 5.1% (7/137), 5.8% (8/137) and 2.9% (4/137) of the endplate type, the lateral type, the anterior type, the posterior type and the mixed type. The difference of total cement leakage rate between the two groups was significant (χ2=4.912, P=0.027). There was no significant difference in leakage rates among different types (P>0.05). Postoperative symptoms were improved in both groups. VAS score and ODI index were improved at 1, 3 and 6 months after operation (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in VAS score and ODI index at preoperative and post-operative follow-up between groups. There were no significant difference between the two groups in the height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebra before operation (17.3±3.2 mm, 17.5±5.4 mm), the kyphosis angle before operation (18.9°±2.0°, 18.7°±2.3°), the height of the anterior edge of the injured vertebra after operation (22.7±3.6 mm, 22.4±5.4 mm), and the kyphosis angle after operation (11.2°±1.4°, 11.9°±1.8°). Conclusion Gelatin sponge debris pre-filling can effectively reduce bone cement leakage after PKP in patients with vertebral cortical bone rupture. There was no significant effect on the improvement of symptoms after PKP. Key words: Spine; Kyphoplasty; Osteoporotic fractures; Gelatin sponge, absorbable