A Pain That is Easily Overlooked: Referred Pain Caused by OVCF

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and the therapeutic effects of treatment at our spinal center in OVCF patients associated with referred pain. The underlying goals were to deepen the understanding of referred pain caused by OVCFs, improve the currently low early diagnosis rate of OVCFs, and improve the effectiveness of treatment.

Methods

The patients who had referred pain from OVCFs and met the inclusion criteria were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect at different time points.

Results

There were 11 males (19.6%) and 45 females (80.4%). Their corresponding mean bone mineral density (BMD) value was −3.3 ± 0.4. The regression coefficient of BMD in the linear regression equation was −4.51 (P<0.001). According to the classification system for referred pain in OVCFs, there were 27 cases of type A (48.2%), 12 cases of type B (21.2%), 8 cases of type C (14.3%), 3 cases of type D (5.4%), and 6 cases of type E (10.7%). All patients were followed up for at least 6 months, and both VAS scores and ODI were found to be significantly better postoperatively than preoperatively (P<0.001). There was no significant difference in VAS scores and ODI between different types preoperatively or 6 months postoperatively (P > 0.05). Within each type, there were significant differences in VAS scores and ODI between the pre- and postoperative timepoints (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Attention should be paid to referred pain in OVCF patients, which is not uncommon in clinical practice. Our summary of the characteristics of referred pain caused by OVCFs can improve the early diagnosis rate of OVCFs patients and provide a reference for their prognosis after PKP.

Keywords:

• referred pain
• radicular pain
• vertebral fracture
• percutaneous kyphoplasty
• osteoporosis
• spinal fracture

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the contribution of all patients, their families, the investigators, and the medical staff. We are grateful for the contributions of all authors.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Joint Special Fund of Applied Fundamental Research of Kunming Medical University granted by the Science and Technology Office of Yunnan, grant no. 202001AY070001-172.