A new study explored the efficacy of using vertebroplasty to treat spinal fracture pain instead of a placebo, according to United Press International.
Here are six findings.
1. Prior to this study, vertebroplasty was the recommended treatment for spinal fractures. It involved injecting cement into the fractured bone to stabilize it and relieve pain.
2. While vertebroplasty is a recommended treatment option, many surgeons are apprehensive toward it, expressing concerns about its benefits, risks and cost effectiveness.
3. Dutch researchers decided to test the treatment option at Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital in Tilburg, Netherlands. They included 180 adults over the age of 50 in the study. All study participants had one to three vertebral compression fractures that were nine weeks old.
4. Study participants were randomly divided into two groups, the vertebroplasty group and placebo group. Ninety-one patients underwent vertebroplasty procedures and 89 received placebo injections.
Each patients' pain level was tracked after one day and one week as well as at the one month, three month, six month and 12-month mark following the procedure.
5. Both groups showed significant reductions in pain; however, there was no difference between the vertebroplasty and placebo groups. Additionally, vertebroplasty had no effect a patient's level of disability or quality of life.
6. While the study was regarded as utmost quality and methodology, physician still have unanswered questions. For example, the study did not look at the long-term benefits of vertebroplasty.