RESEARCH - Kyphoplasty shows benefit in vertebral fracture

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Kyphoplasty Shows Benefit in Vertebral Fracture

March 3, 2009 — Balloon kyphoplasty can be performed with low

periprocedural morbidity and can result in clinical improvement,

report investigators. This is the first large, randomized, long-term

study of spinal augmentation, and the work, known as the Fracture

Reduction Evaluation (FREE) trial, was published online February 25 in

the Lancet.

" Our findings suggest that balloon kyphoplasty is an effective and

safe procedure for patients with acute vertebral fractures and will

help to inform decisions regarding its use as an early treatment

option, " report researchers, led by Wardlaw, MD, from Woodend

Hospital, in Aberdeen, Scotland.

While the trial results point to the safety and efficacy of

kyphoplasty, investigators note that the benefits were not long

lasting. " For most outcome measures, " they write, " the differences

between kyphoplasty treatment and control were diminished at 12

months, because the nonsurgical group improved over time, probably as

a result of fracture healing. "

Spinal augmentation procedures, including balloon kyphoplasty and

vertebroplasty, have been in routine clinical use for more than a

decade, but this is the first large randomized trial to confirm

previous case reports and smaller trials suggesting benefit.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/588985