Abstract: BACKGROUND: In case of complex vertebral fractures, posterior fixation is often required
for correction of deformity and instability. Fixation is commonly supported
by balloon kyphoplasty (BKP) anterior. A development of BKP is
radiofrequency-targeted vertebral augmentation (RF-TVA), which leads to
comparable results for augmentation and pain relief. OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluates the outcome of posterior fixation combined
with RF-TVA or BKP, respectively. METHODS: VAS, ODI, kyphosis angle and vertebral height of 44 patients were evaluated
preoperatively, 3 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Both treatments improved vertebral height and kyphosis angle. At 12
months, vertebral height restoration was still significantly
better in the BKP group (p < 0.001) and the improvement of kyphosis angle
was comparable between both groups (p = 0.71). VAS and ODI improvements were
significantly better in the RF-TVA group (p < 0.001). 8% of BKP patients
had cement extravasations, compared to 10.5% in the RF-TVA group (p =
1.0). CONCLUSIONS: Combining posterior fixation with RF-TVA leads to better results of VAS and
ODI, whereas the vertebral height restoration was favorable for patients
treated with BKP. Cement leakage was comparable between both groups. It was
asymptomatic and within reported ranges. Limitations of this study are the
patient number and different stabilization instrumentation.
