Outcomes of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty in moroccan patients with vertebral compression fractures

Background: Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive percutaneous vertebral augmentation techniques that have been treatment choices for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Our aim is to describe the experience of the Department of Neurosurgery at Ibn Sina University Hospital (Rabat, Morocco) and assess the short and long-term clinical and radiological outcomes and complications of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Methods: We retrospectively studied the charts of 48 patients hospitalized for VCFs in the Department of Neurosurgery at Ibn Sina University Hospital from November 2006 to December 2015. Patients were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and detailed neurological and radiological evaluations. Pre- and post-operative data were compared within each group and between the two procedures. Results: Fourty-eight (48) subjects underwent either vertebroplasty (35 subjects) or kyphoplasty (13 subjects). A total of 58 VCFs were observed (10 patients had a VCFs at two different vertebrae). There was no significant difference between kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty regarding postoperative VAS (p = 0.220). The mean preoperative kyphotic angle was 18 degrees (+/- 4 degrees), whereas the mean postoperative kyphotic angle was 12 degrees (+/- 5 degrees). In the long term (mean follow-up period was 15.2 +/- 4.6 (range: 6-50 months), none of the patients declared a loss of autonomy or a decrease in their activity. Conclusion: Our study is in accordance with the current literature data. Our results demonstrate that both kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty improve the quality of life of VCFs patients through their action on function and pain relief.