[Effect of Sarcopenia on the Efficacy of Percutaneous Kyphoplasty in the Treatment of Osteoporotic Spinal Compression Fractures in Elderly Patients]

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of sarcopenia on the efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)in the treatment of osteoporotic spinal compression fracture(OSCF)in elderly patients. Methods From February 2017 to June 2018,a total of 77 elderly patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in this study.Grip strength of dominant hand was measured by an electronic grip dynamometer with cut-off values of 27 kg for males and 16 kg for females.The cross-sectional area of the pedicle level muscle of the 12th thoracic vertebra(T12)was measured by chest CT.The skeletal muscle index(SMI)was calculated by dividing the T12 pedicle level muscle cross-sectional area by the square of body height.The SMI cut-off value used to diagnose sarcopenia was 42.6 cm²/m²for males and 30.6 cm²/m² for females.Sarcopenia is confirmed when both grip strength and SMI are below the cut-off values.The patients with OSCF all received PKP.The patients in the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups were compared in terms of age,gender,body weight,operation duration,the amount of bleeding,time to ambulation,hospital stay,visual analogue scale(VAS)before and 1 month after operation,Oswestry disability index(ODI)1 month after operation as well as the incidence of refracture within 1 year after operation. Results Gender,body weight,operation duration,the amount of bleeding and the preoperative VAS score showed no significant difference between the two groups(χ²=3.563,P=0.059;t=0.406,P=0.686;t=1.119,P=0.267;t=-0.166,P=0.868;z=-1.076,P=0.282).The patients in the sarcopenia group showed longer time to ambulation,longer hospital stay,higher VAS score and ODI 1 month after operation than those in the non-sarcopenia group(t=3.938,P<0.001;t=5.655,P<0.001;z=-4.562,P<0.001;z=-5.222,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in the incidence of refracture within 1 year after operation between the two groups(χ²=0.596,P=0.440).Linear regression results showed that age did not affect the hospital stay,rehabilitation duration,VAS score or ODI(P=0.519,P=0.870,P=0.332,P=0.126),whereas sarcopenia had significant effects(P<0.001,P=0.001,P<0.001,P<0.001). Conclusions Sarcopenia with OSCF has poorer limb function recovery.Reasonable rehabilitation exercise and dietary therapy are necessary for patients with sarcopenia.

Keywords: percutaneous kyphoplasty; sarcopenia; spinal fracture.