Long-term follow-up after vertebroplasty – A mean 10-years follow-up control study

To evaluate the clinical 10 year outcome of patients treated with percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures and to determine the incidence of new fractures in this time interval, as well as the mortality of the patients who underwent this procedure. All patients undergoing vertebroplasty for vertebral compression fractures between May 2007 until July 2008 were prospectively followed up at 10 years postoperatively. Patients were assessed for radiologic outcome and self-reported outcome parameters (PROs). Gathered parameters remained unmodified to the initial ones analyzing QoL improvement (EQ5D 3L and NASS score) and pain alleviation (VAS, NRS). Mortality was defined as an additional endpoint. Exclusion criteria include additional instrumentation, use of additional devices such as kyphoplasty balloons/stentoplasty, cognitive impairment, insufficient radiological documentation or absent re-consent. Of 280 patients who underwent vertebroplasty, 49 (17.5%) were available for re-assessment with a mean follow-up of 10.5 years (9.9–11.1). Thirty patients (10.7%) were assessed clinically and radiologically, 16 (5.7%) in written form and three (1.1%) by phone only. A total of 186 (66.4%) died during the follow up period. Out of the remaining 45 patients, 27 patients declined participation, eight couldn't participate due to cognitive impairment, four had insufficient radiologic documentation. Six patients were lost to follow-up. At 10 years, patients reported a consistently improved quality of life (EQ-5D; p