Hope Alexander MPH

For Debate

Vertebroplasty for painful acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures: recent Medical Journal of Australia editorial is not relevant to the patient group that we treat with vertebroplasty

William A Clark, Terrence H Diamond, H Patrick McNeil, Peter N Gonski, Glen P Schlaphoff and John C Rouse MJA 2010; 192 (6): 334-337(see link below)

Abstract

We use vertebroplasty for patients with the most severe pain caused by osteoporotic vertebral fractures less than 6 weeks old, and have observed dramatic pain relief in this acute setting.

A recent editorial in the Journal, written by the authors of two recent vertebroplasty trials, suggested that vertebroplasty is not an effective therapy for acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

The trials described in the editorial sampled a very different patient cohort to the one that we treat with vertebroplasty.

Our clinical experience and most of the published literature relating to the benefits of vertebroplasty are in striking contrast to the opinions presented in that editorial.

©The Medical Journal of Australia 2010 www.mja.com.au

Vertebroplasty for painful acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures: recent Medical Journal of Australia editorial is not relevant to the patient group that we treat with vertebroplasty
William A Clark, Terrence H Diamond, H Patrick McNeil, Peter N Gonski, Glen P Schlaphoff and John C Rouse.
Med J Aust 2010; 192 (6): 334-337.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/192_06_150310/cla11439_fm.html

Invited editorial presents an accurate summary of the results of two randomised placebo-controlled trials of vertebroplasty
Rachelle Buchbinder, Richard H Osborne and David Kallmes.
Med J Aust 2010; 192 (6): 338-341.
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/192_06_150310/buc10020_fm.html