The therapeutic effects of anti-target and target injections on osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture

Abstract Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of anti-target and target injections on osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). Method A total of 104 OVCF cases, treated via target or anti-target injections, between Jun 2015 and Mar 2022, in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University (the same team), were retrospectively analyzed. The gender, age, bone density, operation time, and percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP )injection volume of all cases were carefully recorded, and the percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) permeability was compared. Next, we investigated the VAS scores before the operation, as well as 24 h, 3 months, and at the last follow-up after the operation, and compared the vertebral compression relief (anterior vertebral compression relief, central vertebral compression relief, and kyphosis correction degree), based on the acquired X-ray data. Results In the anti-target injection group, the average age was 68.77 ± 5.96 years old, the PVP injection volume was 4.646 ± 0.404 mL, and the operation time was 40.55 ± 5.615 min. We observed no significant difference in the VAS score between the target and anti-target injection groups at 24 h, 3 months, and at the last follow-up after the operation. However, the kyphosis correction degree, as well as the anterior and central vertebral compressions relief of the anti-target and target injection groups exhibited statistically significant differences. In particular, the injected PVP permeability was significantly lower in the anti-target injection group (1.8%), compared to the target injection group (22%) (P = 0.001). Conclusions Both anti-target and target injection groups demonstrated consistent OVCF clinical efficacy. However, the anti-target injection group had drastically reduced PVP permeability and enhanced safety.