Comparison of Analgetic Therapies in Traumatic Vertebral Compression Fractures: Vertebroplasty vs Thermal Facet Ablation.

Comparison of Analgetic Therapies in Traumatic Vertebral Compression Fractures: Vertebroplasty, Stentoplasty and Kyphoplasty Versus Thermal Facet Ablation.

Study design: A prospective randomized study is performed and cases are selected where the indication for surgery is a vertebral compression fracture.

Object: To assess outcomes and complications in patients undergoing vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and thermal facet ablation for vertebral compression.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18 years-old
• Subjects who are able to give informed consent and to understand and comply with study requirements.
• Predominantly axial back and low back pain ≥ 1 month in duration with no radicular pain below the knee that failed to conservative therapy.
• Subjects who have chronic back pain attributed to vertebral compression fractures (AO Spine A1 or A2 fractures) based on clinical evaluation (CT or MRI).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects who decline to provide written consent or follow-up.
• Subjects who are pregnant.
• Subjects with bleeding disorders or active anticoagulation that cannot be stopped for few days close to the time of the procedure.
• Subjects who have an active systemic or local infection.
• Patients who have other specific etiology of low back pain (e.g. significant spinal canal stenosis or grade 2 or 3 spondylolisthesis).
• Secondary gain (i.e., ongoing litigation, worker's compensation or other financial incentives)
• Psychopathology including depression, somatization or poor coping skills
• Physical factors including non-sedentary lifestyle, e.g.; morbid obesity (BMI > 35kg/m2).
• History of previous Radiofrequency Ablation at the same level(s) in the previous 12 months.
• History of previous Vertebroplasty at the same level(s) in the previous 12 months.