| Abstract: Objective To analyze the differences of vesselplasty in clinical symptoms, imaging features, and postoperative complications after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) in different periods. Methods Clinical data of 125 patients with OVCF who received vesselplasty treatment in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the period of surgical treatment, they were divided into two groups: the early surgery group (Group A, surgery within 4 weeks), with 72 patients, including 115 vertebral bodies, and the delayed operation group (Group B, operation after 4 weeks), with 53 patients, including 73 vertebral bodies. Visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), the anterior vertebral height compression rate, local kyphosis angle (LKA), and surgical complications were evaluated before surgery, 1 day after surgery, and 1 year after surgery for all patients in the two groups. Results VAS, ODI score, and LKA of patients in the two groups were significantly reduced 1 day after surgery and 1 year after surgery compared with those before surgery (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the VAS and ODI scores between the two groups during the same follow-up period (P>0.05). LKA in group A was significantly lower than that in group B during the same follow-up period (P<0.05). The anterior vertebral height of all patients was significantly obvious recovery compared 1 day after surgery and 1 year after surgery with preoperative state (P>0.05). However, during the same follow-up period, the anterior vertebral height compression rate in group A was significantly higher than that in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Moreover, the height loss of injured vertebrae in group B was significantly greater than that in group A at 1 year after operation (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in bone cement leakage between the two groups (P>0.05). The number of patients with fractures of adjacent vertebral bodies and the reoperation rate in group B were significantly higher than those in group A at 1 year postoperatively (P<0.05). Conclusion Early or delayed vesselplasty for OVCF does not differ significantly in the reduction of VAS score, ODI, and bone cement leakage. However, early vesselplasty treatment for OVCF has advantages in restoring the height of the vertebral body, reducing postoperative vertebral recollapse, and reducing the incidence of secondary fractures in adjacent vertebral bodies. |