Abstract:Objective To explore the efficacy of small amounts of bone cement in percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treating refractures of the affected vertebra in patients with Kümmell’s disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 81 patients who experienced refractures of the affected vertebra following PVP treatment for Kümmell’s disease at Jiuquan City First People's Hospital between March 2018 and March 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on the amount of bone cement used during PVP: the control group (40 cases, conventional bone cement dose) and the study group (41 cases, small amount of bone cement). Surgical and fracture healing outcomes, cement distribution types, postoperative pain (measured using the Visual Analog Scale, VAS), and vertebral function (evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, JOA, score and the Oswestry Disability Index, ODI) at pre-operation and six months post-operation were compared between the two groups. Radiographic parameters of the affected vertebra and complications were also analyzed.Results There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of surgical time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, or fracture healing time (P >0.05). The distribution of bone cement also showed no significant differences between the groups (P >0.05). VAS scores at pre-operation, 3 days post-operation, 1 month post-operation, and 3 months post-operation showed significant improvements over time in both groups (P <0.05), but there were no significant differences between the groups at any given time point (P >0.05). Both groups showed significant improvements in JOA scores and ODI indices six months post-operation compared to pre-operation, with no significant differences between the groups (P >0.05). The changes in anterior and posterior vertebral height ratios and kyphotic Cobb angle at six months post-operation also showed no significant differences between the groups (P >0.05). However, the overall complication rate was lower in the study group compared to the control group (P <0.05).Conclusion Both small and conventional amounts of bone cement during PVP are effective in treating refractures of the affected vertebra in Kümmell’s disease, leading to significant pain relief and functional recovery. However, using a small amount of bone cement may offer higher safety, making it a preferable option.