American Journal of Neuroradiology 26:2652-2657, November-December 2005
© 2005 American Society of Neuroradiology
SPINE
Evaluation of Vertebroplasty with a Validated Outcome Measure: The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire
a College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
b Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
c Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
d Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Address correspondence to Andrew T. Trout, Mayo Clinic–Rochester, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebroplasty is rapidly disseminating as a treatment for vertebral compression fractures, but its efficacy has not been assessed with a well-validated, back pain–specific instrument. We report the use of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) in patients undergoing vertebroplasty for painful osteoporotic compression fractures.
METHODS: Retrospective review of patients treated with vertebroplasty who completed the RDQ and 2 verbal pain scales (0–10) for pain at rest and pain with activity at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year post-vertebroplasty. Changes in outcome measures were analyzed by using a paired t test and correlations were assessed with Spearman 
. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between baseline scores and independent variables.
RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients were treated at 164 vertebral levels. At baseline, RDQ scores were associated with rest and activity pain (P < .001 and P = .002, respectively) but were not associated with other independent variables. All 3 outcome scores decreased by 1 week and remained improved through maximal follow-up (P < .001). RDQ scores improved by a mean of 7.0 points at 1 week and remained improved at 1 year (P = .02). RDQ scores correlated with both rest and activity pain, but the absolute correlation was slightly better (+0.15 on average) with activity pain.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent vertebroplasty experienced relief of back pain and symptoms, as shown by improvement in verbal pain and RDQ scores. The RDQ correlates well with measures of pain, shows clinically significant improvement and is responsive to changes across time. More important, the RDQ provides an easily administered, well-validated, back pain–specific outcome measure that could be adopted to assess vertebroplasty outcomes.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  R. J. McDonald, L. A. Gray, H. J. Cloft, K. R. Thielen, and D. F. Kallmes The Effect of Operator Variability and Experience in Vertebroplasty Outcomes Radiology, November 1, 2009; 253(2): 478 - 485. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Buchbinder, R. H. Osborne, P. R. Ebeling, J. D. Wark, P. Mitchell, C. Wriedt, S. Graves, M. P. Staples, and B. Murphy A Randomized Trial of Vertebroplasty for Painful Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures N. Engl. J. Med., August 6, 2009; 361(6): 557 - 568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. F. Kallmes, B. A. Comstock, P. J. Heagerty, J. A. Turner, D. J. Wilson, T. H. Diamond, R. Edwards, L. A. Gray, L. Stout, S. Owen, et al. A Randomized Trial of Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Spinal Fractures N. Engl. J. Med., August 6, 2009; 361(6): 569 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D.F. Kallmes, B.A. Comstock, L.A. Gray, P.J. Heagerty, W. Hollingworth, J.A. Turner, L. Stout, and J.G. Jarvik Baseline Pain and Disability in the Investigational Vertebroplasty Efficacy and Safety Trial AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., June 1, 2009; 30(6): 1203 - 1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E.M. Knavel, A. E. Rad, K.R. Thielen, and D.F. Kallmes Clinical Outcomes with Hemivertebral Filling during Percutaneous Vertebroplasty AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., March 1, 2009; 30(3): 496 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L.A. Gray, A. E. Rad, J.R. Gaughen Jr., T.J. Kaufmann, and D.F. Kallmes Efficacy of Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Multiple Synchronous and Metachronous Vertebral Compression Fractures AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., February 1, 2009; 30(2): 318 - 322. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E.M. Knavel, K.R. Thielen, and D.F. Kallmes Vertebroplasty for the Treatment of Traumatic Nonosteoporotic Compression Fractures AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., February 1, 2009; 30(2): 323 - 327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. E. Rad and D.F. Kallmes Pain Relief following Vertebroplasty in Patients With and Without Localizing Tenderness on Palpation AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., October 1, 2008; 29(9): 1622 - 1626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R.J. McDonald, A.T. Trout, L.A. Gray, A. Dispenzieri, K.R. Thielen, and D.F. Kallmes Vertebroplasty in Multiple Myeloma: Outcomes in a Large Patient Series AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2008; 29(4): 642 - 648. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K.F. Layton, K.R. Thielen, C.A. Koch, P.H. Luetmer, J.I. Lane, J.T. Wald, and D.F. Kallmes Vertebroplasty, First 1000 Levels of a Single Center: Evaluation of the Outcomes and Complications AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., April 1, 2007; 28(4): 683 - 689. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. A. Manson and F. M. Phillips Minimally Invasive Techniques for the Treatment of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., August 1, 2006; 88(8): 1862 - 1872. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|