Effect of percutaneous vertebroplasty on the treatment of osteoporotic spinal fractures in elderly patients and risk factors for postoperative lower extremity deep vein thrombosis.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of PVP (PVP) in treating osteoporotic spinal fractures in the elderly and analyze the risk factors for postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities.

Methods: A total of 100 elderly patients with osteoporotic spinal fractures, treated between August 2019 and July 2021, were divided into two groups: PVP (research group, n=50) and conservative treatment (control group, n=50). Outcome measures, including injured vertebrae, pain levels, and treatment outcomes, were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who underwent PVPs were further categorized based on the presence of lower extremity DVT one month post-surgery. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for post-surgical lower limb DVT.

Results: PVP resulted in a significantly smaller posterior convexity angle of the injured spine and higher anterior, midline, and posterior edges of the injured spine compared to conservative treatment (P<0.001). Patients in the research group had significantly lower visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and higher treatment efficiency compared to those in the conservative treatment group (all P<0.05). Nine cases of lower extremity DVT were observed after PVP. Logistic regression analysis identified age, body mass, smoking, and diabetes as independent risk factors for post-surgical lower extremity DVT.

Conclusion: PVP improves spinal function and relieves pain in elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures. However, age, body mass, smoking, and diabetes are independent risk factors for postoperative lower extremity DVT.