Enlarged unilateral posterior vertebral column resection for spinal kyphosis accompanied with compressive vertebral fracture: short term clinical outcome with one-year follow-up

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of a modified surgical technique, enlarged unilateral posterior vertebral column resection (EU-PVCR), for treatment of spinal kyphosis accompanied with compressive vertebral fracture.Material and Methods: Between January 2015 and December 2020, data of 13 patients who underwent EU-PVCR were retrospectively collected. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months. Clinical outcome was evaluated by kyphotic Cobb’s angle, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry disability index (ODI). The operation time, blood loss and complications were also recorded. Results: All patients received this operation successfully. The average time of follow up was 12.3±2.1 months. At pre-operation, 1 week post-operation and 12 months post-operation, the Cobb angle were 45.5±6.1, 7.9±1.3, 8.6±1.4 (P<0.05). SVA was 3.2±0.8cm at pre-operation, and changed to 1.9±0.9cm at post-operation, and 2.1±1.1cm at the last follow up. At pre-operation, 1 weeks post-operation and 12 months post-operation, VAS were 6.1±1.3, 2.5±0.5, 1.3±0.5 (P<0.05).ODI was 28.0±2.7 before operation, and improved to 8.9±1.9 at most recent follow-up (P<0.05). No permanent neurological complication was observed during follow up. Conclusion: EU-PVCR technique is an effective surgical method for the treatment of spinal kyphosis accompanied by compressive vertebral fracture in adults, while the long-term clinical outcome remains further investigated.