Percutaneous vertebral augmentation using drill rotation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with intravertebral vacuum cleft

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of a new technique of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA): drill rotation-cement injected under vacuum aspiration (DR-CIVAS) for vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) with intravertebral vacuum cleft (IVC) sign. Materials and methods A retrospective study was conducted in 46 consecutive patients with OVCFs and IVC signs, who underwent PVA using DR-CIVAS ( n = 22, DR-CIVAS group) or traditional technique without DR-CIVAS ( n = 24, control group). The pre- and postoperative vertebral height and wedge angle change and visual analog scale (VAS), the volume of cement injected, incidences of cement leakage, and subsequent new vertebral compression fractures were evaluated between the two groups. Results No significant difference was found in cement leakage incidences, pre- and postoperative VAS scores, vertebral height, and wedge angle change between the two groups. The mean cement volume was significantly higher ( P < 0.001) in DR-CIVAS group (4.87 mL) than in the control group (3.58 mL). Of the 22 patients in DR-CIVAS group, the subsequent fractures occurred in 2 cases (9.1%) located in the nonadjacent levels. In the control group, the subsequent fractures occurred in 6 cases (25.0%) located in the adjacent level ( n = 1) and the augmented levels ( n = 5). Although DR-CIVAS group did not demonstrate a statistical reduction of the incidence of subsequent fractures ( P = 0.25), the subgroup analysis revealed that subsequent fractures frequently involved the augmented level in the control group ( P = 0.04). Conclusions PVA with DR-CIVAS technique is effective for OVCFs with IVC sign, with lower incidences of subsequent new vertebral compression fractures in the augmented vertebra.