Impact of bone cement leakage on early postoperative pain in percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Front Surg. 2026 May 18;13:1830335. doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2026.1830335. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the impact of bone cement leakage and its distribution on early postoperative pain following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) and to determine whether bone cement leakage is an independent risk factor for early postoperative pain.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 262 patients with OVCF who underwent PVP at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between December 2020 and December 2023. Preoperative and postoperative imaging was used to assess bone cement leakage. Clinical data were collected, and pain intensity was evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up visits. Univariate analysis was used to screen potential risk factors, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for early postoperative pain.

RESULTS: Bone cement leakage occurred in 68 patients (25.95%). Postoperative VAS scores were significantly higher in the bone cement leakage group (BCL) than in the non-leakage group (NBCL) (3.99 ± 1.77 vs. 2.20 ± 1.30, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified bone cement distribution (OR = 11.525, 95% CI = 3.730-35.610, p < 0.001) and bone cement leakage (OR = 10.167, 95% CI = 5.062-20.420, p < 0.001) as independent risk factors for early postoperative pain.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that bone cement leakage and its distribution are closely associated with early postoperative pain following PVP. Bone cement leakage is an important risk factor and should be closely monitored for early identification and management.

PMID:42232326 | PMC:PMC13223018 | DOI:10.3389/fsurg.2026.1830335