Multicenter evaluation of therapeutic strategies of inpatients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures in Germany.

The aim of this study was to assess therapeutic strategies of inpatients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (OTF) in Germany. Prospective multi-center study including 16 German-speaking trauma centers over a period of 7 months. All inpatients with OTF were included. Radiological and clinical data on admission and treatment modalities were assessed. Seven hundred and seven (99.3%) out of 712 included patients (73.3% female) could be evaluated. Mean age was 75 years (30–103). 51.3% could not remember any traumatic incident. Fracture distribution was from T2 to L5 with L1 (19%) most commonly affected. According to the Magerl classification type A1 (52.1%) and A3 (42.7%) were most common. B and C type injuries (2.6%) and neurological deficits (3.1%) were rare. Previous progression of vertebral deformation was evident in 34.4% of patients and related to t score below − 3 (Odds ratio 1.9661). Patients presented with anticoagulation medication (15.4%), dementia (13%), and ASA score > 3 (12.4%) frequently. 82.3% of patients complained of pain > 4 on VAS, 37% could not be mobilized despite pain medication according to grade II WHO pain ladder. 81.6% received operative treatment. Kyphoplasty (63.8%) and hybrid stabilization including kyphoplasty with (14.4%) or without screw augmentation (7.6%) were the techniques most frequently used. Invasiveness of treatment increased with degree of instability. OTF are mostly type A compression fractures. Patients suffer from severe pain and immobilization frequently. Progression of deformity is correlated to t score below − 3. Treatment of inpatients is mainly surgical, with kyphoplasty followed by hybrid stabilization as commonly used techniques.