More articles from LEVEL 1 EBM EXPEDITED PUBLICATION
- A Randomized Trial Comparing Balloon Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty for Vertebral Compression Fractures due to Osteoporosis
Patients with osteoporotic acute thoracic and lumbar vertebral body fractures were randomly assigned to either kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty with 12- and 24-month posttreatment fracture incidence as the primary end point. Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty had similar long-term improvement in pain and disability with comparable safety profiles and few device-related complications. Procedure duration was shorter with vertebroplasty. Kyphoplasty had fewer cement leakages and a trend toward longer fracture-free survival.
- Transforaminal versus Intra-Articular Facet Corticosteroid Injections for the Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Study
In this prospective study, patients with cervical radicular pain were assigned to receive CT-guided transforaminal or facet dexamethasone injections and their outcomes were measured at 4 weeks postprocedure and compared with data collected prior to injections. Patients who had facet injections experienced significant pain reduction scores when compared with those who underwent transforaminal injections. Thus, facet injections are an effective treatment of cervical radiculopathy and represent a valid and safer alternative to transforaminal injections.