목적: 신경성 파행을 보이는 골다공증성 척추체 압박골절 환자의 치료 시 척추체 성형술에 추가로 시행한 선택적 신경 차단술이 새로운 인접 부위 척추체 골절 발생에 미치는 영향에 대해 분석하였다. 대상 및 방법: 신경성 파행을 보이는 골다공증성 척추체 압박골절로 진단받은 환자 중 척추체 성형술만 시행한 환자군 40명과 추가로 선택적 신경 차단술을 시행한 환자군 40명을 최소 1년 이상 추시 관찰하였다. 결과: 두 군 사이에 나이, 성별, 척추관 협착증 정도, 골밀도, 요추전만각, 천추경사각, 골반경사각, 골반 투사각, 척추체 높이 회복정도, 기존 척추체 골절, 추간판 내 골시멘트 누출에 있어 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다(p≥0.05). 그러나 새로운 인접 부위 척추체 골절이, 척추체 성형술만 시행한 환자 40명 중 13명, 추가적 선택적 신경 차단술을 시행한 환자 40명 중 4명에서 발생하여 새로운 인접 부위 척추체 골절의 발생이 통계적으로 유의하게 감소하였다(p<0.05). 결론: 신경성 파행을 동반한 골다공증성 척추체 골절 환자의 치료에 있어 척추체 성형술에 추가로 시행한 선택적 신경 차단술이 새로운 인접 부위 척추체 골절을 감소시킬 수 있는 치료 옵션이 될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of selective nerve root blocks with vertebroplasty in treatment of patients with osteoporotic compression fracture accompanied spinal stenosis showing neurogenic claudication. Materials and Methods: Of 80 patients admitted to our orthopedic department for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture accompanied by neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis between May 2010 and September 2011, 40 patients who underwent only vertebroplasty and 40 patients who also underwent an additional selective nerve block were studied with a minimum follow-up period of one year. The two groups were compared for their age, sex, grade of spinal stenosis, bone mineral density (BMD), lordotic angle, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence, restoration rate of vertebral height, preexisting fracture, intradiscal cement leakage, and for new adjacent vertebral fractures during a follow-up period of at least one year. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 17.0 and statistical significance was determined using the Student t-test and chi-square test with p<0.05. Results: No statistically significant difference (p≥0.05) in age sex, grade of spinal stenosis, BMD, lordotic angle, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, restoration of vertebral height, preexisting fracture, and intradiscal cement leakage was observed between the vertebroplasty only group and the additional selective root block group. However, the incidence of new adjacent vertebral fractures between the groups was 13 of 40 patients in the vertebroplasty only group and four of 40 patients in the selective nerve block addition group; a statistically significant reduction was observed in the nerve block group (p<0.05). Conclusion: In treatment of patients with osteoporotic compression fracture with neurogenic claudication due to spinal stenosis, addition of selective nerve block to vertebroplasty can lessen pain and the resulting postural change, thereby mitigating dynamic sagittal instability, which in turn results in reduced incidence of new adjacent vertebral fractures. As such, selective nerve block should be considered as a safe, simple, and effective tool for use in prevention of new adjacent vertebral fractures in patients with osteoporotic fracture who are suffering from neurogenic claudication.