Percutaneous kyphoplasty improves surgical outcomes and quality of life in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) on surgical outcomes and postoperative well-being in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). METHODS: A total of 118 geriatric patients with OVCF treated at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between March 2022 and March 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 54 underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP group), and 64 received PKP (PKP group). Data collected included surgical outcomes (bone cement injection volume, operative duration) and vertebral morphological parameters (kyphotic Cobb angle, mid/anterior vertebral height). Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism markers, including osteocalcin (BGP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), were assessed. Functional outcomes (Visual Analog Scale [VAS], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], and Japanese Orthopaedic Association [JOA] Scale) were evaluated. Additionally, complications such as cement leakage, infection, and pressure ulcers were monitored. Quality of life was assessed using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Variables associated with pain relief were identified through univariate screening followed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Compared with PVP, PKP involved more bone cement use and longer procedural duration. However, PKP achieved more pronounced reductions in post-treatment Cobb angle, VAS, and ODI scores than PVP, along with more significant increases in mid/anterior vertebral height, BMD, BGP, BALP, JOA, and SF-36 scores. The complication rate was similar between groups. CONCLUSION: In geriatric OVCF cases, PKP enhances vertebral morphology, BMD, bone metabolism, functional recovery, and patient well-being, while maintaining a safety profile comparable to PVP, despite requiring greater cement volumes and extended surgery time.