The physical progression of the osteoporotic spinal fracture

The progressive loss of bone density and the dysfunction of bones’ micro-architecture leads to increased danger for fractures most often occurring of the spinal bones (intervetebral). Those fractures are characterized by the sudden slip of the spondylican body and they usually produce acute pain or in some cases they can go totally without symptoms. Aim: The aim of the study was (a) to identify factors which affect the progression of the osteoporotic fracture, and (b) to select the suitable treatment method (vertebroplasty). MATERIAL-Method: The retrospective method took place in an English Hospital. Sixty eight patients suffering from osteoporotic intervetebral fractures during the last 6 years were evaluated. Their mean age was 65 years. A questionnaire of 33 parameters was used. The clinical, demographic and radiological data were analyzed by application of the following statistical methods: Kolmogorov-Smirnov, multifactorial analysis, correlation analysis and Spearman analysis. Results: 57.4% of the patients experienced a previous osteoporotic fracture and had a history of acute pain especially at the thoracodorsal spine (88.2%, P<0.0001). The fracture reason for admission at the hospital was severe wedging with kyphosis of over 20° (57.7%) and loss of height 44.62% (SD=15.5). The mean hospitalization time was 14.44 days. For most of those patients conservative care was followed having 3 weeks of bedrest (P<0.0001) and 8.8% (6) patients out of the 68 had vertebroplasty with very good results. Only 1 patient experienced complications. Conclusions: Osteoporotic intervetebral fractures follow their physical healing progression according to the bibliography results. Vertebroplasty had better results from the point of view of the patient’s quality of life. However, a larger patients sample and an in depth study of the cases situation is needed in order to support our results. The contribution of nursing science in prevention, treatment and quality rehabilitation is very important.

Category: Volume 45, N 3
Hits: 474 Hits
Created Date: 15-09-2006
Authors: Maria Papadimitriou , Sotiris L. Papastefanou