Abstract: Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty by unipedicular and
bipedicular approach for treatment of Kummell’s disease. Methods The clinical data of patients with Kummell’s disease
undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty via unilateral or bilateral approach between January, 2006 and January, 2011 were
reviewed. The clinical efficacy, operation time, bone cement injection volume, incidence of cement leakage, degree of vertebral
height restoration, and degree of kyphosis correction were compared between the patients receiving surgery via the two
approaches. Results The operation time was shorter in the unipedicular group than in the bipedicular group (P<0.05), but bone
cement injection volume, incidence of cement leakage, degree of anterior vertebral height restoration, degree of middle
vertebral height restoration, degree of kyphosis correction, and VAS scores were all comparable between the two groups (P>
0.05). In both groups, the VAS scores at 24 h, 3 months and at the last follow-up after the surgery were lowered compared to
the preoperative scores (P<0.05). Conclusion Both unipedicular and bipedicular percutaneous vertebroplasty can achieve
satisfactory analgesia in the treatment of Kummell’s disease with similar clinical efficacy. The unipedicular approach is
sufficient for treatment of Kummell’s disease.