Effect of different cement distribution patterns on the short-term outcome of unilateral PKP for patients with OVCF

ZHANG Xun-wei; BING Deng-wei; WANG Hai-bin; WU Qin-hua

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-252X.2026.03.009

Abstract：Objective To analyze the impact of bone cement distribution patterns on short-term clinical outcomes in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF)undergoing unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP).Methods A total of 89 patients with OVCF treated at our hospital between March 2021 and June 2024 were included in this study.Based on the distribution pattern of bone cement,the patients were divided into three groups:Group A(bone cement did not cross the vertebral midline),comprising 33 cases;Group B(bone cement crossed the midline but did not reach the contralateral pedicle),comprising 34 cases;and Group C(bone cement crossed the midline and reached the contralateral pedicle),comprising 22 cases.Perioperative indicators,radiographic parameters,pain visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Oswestry disability index(ODI)scores,Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)scores were compared among the three groups.Results Group C exhibited a significantly higher volume of bone cement injected and a higher incidence of bone cement leakage compared to Groups A and B(P<0.05).At the 6-month postoperative follow-up,the anterior vertebral height and the ratio of anterior-to-posterior vertebral height in Group C were significantly greater than those in Groups A and B(P<0.05),while the kyphotic Cobb's angle was significantly smaller(P<0.05).Furthermore,Group C demonstrated superior outcomes in terms of VAS scores,ODI scores,and JOA scores compared to the other two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions In unilateral PKP for OVCF,a bone cement distribution pattern that crosses the vertebral midline and reaches the contralateral pedicle offers advantages including superior fracture reduction,better spinal functional outcomes,and more effective pain relief.