Objective: To evaluate the outcome of vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty (VK), in comparison with non-VK treatment, among patients hospitalized for first-ever vertebral compression fractures (VCFs).
Design: A population-based retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Taiwan' s National Health Insurance claims data.
Participants: All individuals aged ≥ 60 years who were newly discharged after hospitalization for a primary VCF diagnosis.
Intervention: Percutaneous vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty.
Measurements: Study outcomes were discharge outcome (re-hospitalization within 1 week, 1 month or 6 months, categorized by diagnosis) and the prescription of anti-osteoporosis medication for secondary fracture prevention. Potential selection bias was adjusted by using propensity score matching to select one conservatively treated patient (e.g. lumbar brace, analgesics, or physical therapy) matched to one patient receiving VK.
Results: The study cohort consisted of 9238 patients who had been discharged after hospitalization for a first-ever VCF between 2004 and 2007. During the index hospitalization, 1018 patients received VK, compared with 8,220 patients who did not receive VK. Patients receiving percutaneous procedure group had a consistently lower incidence of 7-day re-hospitalization for any of the three outcomes (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.32-0.72). Considering the cause of re-hospitalization separately, the vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty group had a significantly lower risk of 7-day re-hospitalization for fracture-related diagnosis (OR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12-0.68) and musculoskeletal diagnosis (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.88) as well as a significantly lower risk of 1-month re-hospitalization (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.59-0.93).
Conclusions: VK may protect patients with VCFs from short-term re-hospitalization and a greater need exists for anti-osteoporosis medication as secondary prevention for this at-risk patient group.
Copyright © 2013 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.