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BACKGROUND: Percutaneous vertebroplasty is one of the effective treatments for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body will influence the clinical efficacy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of the distribution of bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty on the early postoperative outcomes after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. METHODS: A total of 132 patients, including 52 males and 80 females, with a mean age of (76.3±8.2) years who diagnosed as osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled. All patients were divided into underdispersion group (n=54) and diffuse distribution group (n=78) according to the pattern of cement distribution on postoperative X-rays. Visual analogue scale scores postoperatively, the height of anterior edge and midline of injured vertebrae, Cobb angle of local kyphosis and the incidence of complications after 1-year follow-up were compared between the two groups. The trial was performed in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements for research in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The visual analogue scale scores were lower at 2 days, 1 and 6 months after operation than those before operation in the two groups (P < 0.05). The visual analogue scale scores at 1 month after operation in the underdispersion group were higher than those in the diffuse distribution group (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups at 2 days and 6 months after operation (P > 0.05). (2) Cobb angle and vertebral body height improved in both groups postoperatively compared to preoperatively (P < 0.05). The difference in Cobb angle and vertebral body height was not statistically significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) The rate of bone cement infiltration was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Incidence of recurrent fractures in adjacent vertebrae was lower in the diffuse distribution group than that in the underdispersion group (P < 0.05). (4) These findings confirm that percutaneous vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body will affect the surgical results. The bone cement is diffusely distributed, which may reduce the incidence of recurrent fractures in adjacent vertebrae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ACKGROUND: The single volar locking plate internal fixation is often used for type C distal radius fractures. However, some patients still fail to achieve good fracture reduction, and the grip strength of the affected limb is significantly weakened. How to restore the length of the radius and maintain the reduction and internal fixation during the operation is challenging. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of external fixator-assisted reduction and locking plate internal fixation and simple locking plate internal fixation in the treatment of type C distal radius fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 93 patients with type C distal radius fractures who underwent surgical treatment from March 2017 to August 2019. There were 49 cases in the external fixator-assisted group, with an average follow-up period of (14.95±5.64) months (range, 6-30 months); there were 44 cases in the simple plate group, with an average follow-up period of (15.38±6.27) months (range, 6 to 24 months). The preoperative general information, surgical related indicators, postoperative follow-up X-ray measurements and wrist function were compared and analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The operation time, incision length, and number of X-ray exposures in the external fixator-assisted group were less than those in the simple plate group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). (2) During the postoperative follow-up, the degree of radial height recovery in the external fixator-assisted group was better than that of the simple plate group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the recovery of palm tilt and ulnar deviation between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) On the second day after operation, the visual analogue scale score of the external fixator-assisted group was higher than that of the simple plate group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (4) At 1-year follow-up, the degree of grip strength recovery in the external fixator-assisted group was better than that in the simple plate group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (5) The results show that both methods can effectively reduce and fix type C distal radius fractures, and restore wrist function. The external fixator-assisted group has advantages such as shorter operation time, less trauma, less X-ray radiation, and better grip strength in comparison to the simple plate group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]