Effect of adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration on recurrent adjacent vertebral fracture after percu-tanous kyphoplasty

Objective To study the correlation between adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration and recurrent adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP). Methods Clinical data about 135 patients with vertebral compression fractures due to osteoporosis admitted to our hospital From December 2008 to February 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Of these 135 patients, 82(16 males and 66 females) with no significant adjacent disc degeneration according to their MRI underwent bilateral PKP, and X-ray and MRI before and after PKP and during the follow-up period. The patients were divided into non-degeneration group and degeneration group according to whether they had degeneration after operation. Results Of the 82 patients, 79(96.3%) were followed up for an average period of 2 years. Adjacent disc degeneration occurred in 42(53.2%) after PKP. Of the 19 patients who developed adjacent vertebral degeneration, 14(33.3%) were in the degeneration group and 5(13.5%) were in the non-degeneration group(P=0.04).No significant difference was observed in the VAS and ODI scores of degeneration group at the last follow-up. However, analysis of the factors for fracture showed that the VAS and ODI scores were significantly different. Conclusion Adjacent disc degeneration does not affect the treatment of recurrent adjacent vertebral fracture but may increase its risk after PKP.