The appropriate management of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures : a single institute evaluation using the VCF Monitor

Abstract

From the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Klinikum Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany Osteoporosis-related vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) are commonly seen in clinical practice. Treatment choice is often challenging due to heterogeneity of the patient population. A European multidisciplinary expert panel developed patient-specific recommendations for reatment choice that were embedded in an online evaluation tool (VCF Monitor). This study aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of treatment choice in patients with OVCF in a German hospital. The prospective observational study in 190 patients with OCVF (2013-2015). Using the VCF Monitor, treatment choices were compared with the recommendations of the European expert panel. Treatment choices included balloon kyphoplasty (61%), non-surgical management (36%) and other surgical procedures (3%). Compared to the panel recommendations, 70% of treatment choices were appropriate, 24% uncertain, and 3% inappropriate. Less appropriate choices were partly due to patient preferences. The VCF Monitor proved to be a helpful tool for quality assurance in the management of OVCF.