Functional results of vertebral augmentation techniques in pathological vertebral fractures of myelomatous patients

This is a retrospective study to determine the effects of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty on quality of life in multiple myeloma patients with spinal compression fractures. Thirty-four patients with primary multiple myeloma were treated for symptomatic compression fractures between June 2003 and June 2005. Kyphoplasty was applied to 22 levels in 18 and vertebroplasty to 28 levels in 16 patients. The pain-related disability was evaluated for every single daily living activity using visual analog scale (VAS) over 10 points. (pain at rest, walking, sitting-standing, taking a shower and wearing clothes). (This evaluation is performed to every patient with degenerative disorders of the spine upon admission to our clinic.) Overall VAS scores were evaluated over 50 points (0 minimum, 50 maximum) preoperatively, at postoperative six weeks, six months and at one year prior to taking analgesics. The amount of analgesic use was recorded. Data was analyzed statistically using variance analysis, Friedman's multiple comparison test and Student's t test. The mean overall pain score in the kyphoplasty group decreased from a preoperative value of 36 to 12.13 at the sixth postoperative week, to 8.63 at the sixth month and to 9.72 at one year. (p