ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2008; 25 (2): 69-74

Original article

TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROTIC VERTEBRAL FRACTURES

 

 

Zoran Golubovic1, 
Predrag Stojiljkovic1,
Petar Bosnjakovic2,
Zoran Radovanovic2,
Aleksandar Visnjic3,
Sasa Ristic2,
Ivan Golubovic1, 
Stevo Najman3

 

1 Clinic of  Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia

2 Institute of Radiology, Clinical Center Nis, Serbia

3 Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Vertebral compression fractures are the most common skeletal injuries due to osteoporosis.  Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures stand for the leading cause of disability and morbidity in the elderly.

The aim of the paper was to present the modern management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

The paper presents the results of the treatment of 44 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the period from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2005 at the Clinic of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Clinical Center Nis.  In the analyzed group there were 31 (70.45%) females and 13 (29.55%) males. The subjects in the sixth decade -16 (36.36%), the fifth decade – 13 (29.55) and the seventh decade of life – 6 (13.66) prevailed. The most frequent cause of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly was minor trauma.

Most of the patients – 34 (77.27%) with osteoporotic vertebral fractures were treated with bed rest and analgesic medications, 7 (15.91%) patients were treated with bed rest, analgesic medications and bracing, while three patients were treated by vertebroplasty.  Anti-osteoporotic drugs (calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates) were administered to all patients. Among the complications associated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, the collapse of vertebral body followed by chronic pain was reported in 15 (34.09%) cases and development of kyphotic deformity in 12 (27.27%) cases. In the patients treated by vertebroplasty, no complications were registered. Good results have been reported following vertebroplasty in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

 

Key words: osteoporosis, osteoporotic vertebral fractures