To Study the Functional Outcome of Vertebroplasty versus Conservative Management in Osteoporotic Fractures.

Introduction: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) significantly affect morbidity and quality of life. While conservative management (analgesics, bracing, and physiotherapy) is standard, vertebroplasty offers a minimally invasive alternative. This study compared the functional outcomes of vertebroplasty and conservative management in patients with osteoporotic fractures.

Materials and methods: A prospective study of patients (≥60 years) with acute/subacute VCFs assessed pain (visual analog scale) and function (Oswestry disability index) at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients underwent either vertebroplasty or conservative management. Statistical analysis included Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-tests.

Results: Among 162 patients (81 per group), vertebroplasty led to significantly greater pain relief and functional improvement at all follow-ups (P < 0.0001). However, new fractures were more frequent in the vertebroplasty group (9.68% vs. 3.23%).

Conclusion: Vertebroplasty provides faster pain relief and better functional recovery but carries a higher risk of new fractures, requiring careful patient selection.