Clinical analysis of 3D digital printing technology in severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Objective To explore and compare the effect and significance of 3 D digital printing technique in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods From January 2017 to January 2019, 64 cases of single thoracic SOVCFs of Shandong Provincial Third Hospital were divided into two groups with 32 cases in each groups according to random numbers method. The experimental group underwent surgery using a novel 3 D digital printing technique, while the control group underwent surgery by conventional PVP method. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by operation time, fluoroscopic frequency and the cement amount in surgery. Oswestry Disability Index(ODI), and visual analogue scal(VAS) of pain were used for comparisons between the two groups. Imaging parameter such as the vertebral body height recovery rate, the bone cement distribution, the rate of bone cement leakage and the bone density were evaluated. Results The experimental group had better results in operation score than those in control group(all P<0.05). The VAS and ODI score of two groups were significant decreased after operation. The VAS score of the observation group was better than that of the control group at 3 th day post-operation(all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups at 6 months after operation(P>0.05). The ODI of each time point of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05). The recovery rate of vertebral height, unilateral distribution of bone cement in the observation group were better than those in the control group(all P<0.05). There were no serious complications occurred in two groups(all P>0.05). The cement leakage rate was better in the experimental group though there was no statistically significant(P>0.05). Conclusion Comparing the conventional method, using the 3 D digital printing technique can significantly shorten the puncture procedure time, reduce the intraoperative radioactive frequency, improve bilateral distribution rate of bone cement, and reduce leakage rate of bone cement, which could be further promoted in clinic.