Question: Can the same levels of pain reduction and increase in function be achieved in kyphoplasty procedures with Calcibon as with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement?
Patients and methods: In a prospective, interdisciplinary single-center study, 99 patients (173 vertebral fractures) were treated with kyphoplasty. Augmentation was performed with PMMA in 66 cases (127 vertebral bodies) and with Calcibon in 33 patients (46 vertebral bodies). Outcome data were obtained with a VAS spine score and by radiomorphometric evaluation of X-rays before and after treatment.
Results: Pain and function improved in 87% of the patients; an average of 16% of the lost vertebral height was regained. A 9% cement leakage rate was observed with PMMA and 10% with Calcibon. There was no significant difference in pain reduction and radiomorphometric evaluation between the two techniques.
Conclusion: Kyphoplasty is a reliable, minimally invasive method to stabilize fractured vertebral bodies. Augmentation with Calcibon improves pain and function and enables the treated vertebral body to regain of height.