Original Title: Application 27

Authors' results and conclusions: Vertebroplasty - Safety - Vertebroplasty appears to be a largely safe procedure although there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is as safe as, or safer than, medical management. Effectiveness - On the basis of limited evidence, vertebroplasty appears to be more effective than conventional medical management at treating symptomatic vertebral compression fracture in the short term, and as effective in the long term. Kyphoplasty - Safety - The available evidence is not sufficient to make definitive conclusions on the safety of kyphoplasty compared with conventional surgery, as there were no studies available comparing the two techniques. The majority of evidence came from a comparison with conservative treatment or from uncontrolled case series. These types of study designs cannot rule out the possibility of natural history or placebo effects. Tentative conclusions may be made from the available literature that kyphoplasty is a safe procedure, although there is insufficient evidence to determine if it is as safe as, or safer than, conventional surgery. Effectiveness - The literature base was insufficient to allow conclusions to be made regarding whether kyphoplasty is as, or more, effective than conventional surgery at improving health outcomes.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2005

URL for published report: Not Available

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Australia

Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617

Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au

Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)