in recent years the search for therapeutic protocols that could enhance the VFFs healing, thus reducing bed rest-related complications and improving the quality of life of osteoporotic patients. In this context, biophysical stimulation with Capacitively Coupling Electric Fields (CCEF) together, antiresorptive therapy, vitamin D supplementation, and analgesic drugs could play a central role. CCEF is a non-invasive type of biophysical stimulation used to enhance fracture repair and spinal fusion. Positive effects of CCEF have been reported in osteoporotic vertebral fractures to resolve chronic pain and in postoperative pain, disability, and quality of life after spinal fusion In a preliminary observational study, Piazzolla et al. showed a significantly faster VBME resolution and back pain improvement in patients suffering from VFFs.
Between January 2015 and December 2020, patients referring to the spine centres participating in this multicentre randomized controlled trial with acute VFFs type OF1 or OF2 were included in the present study. Ethical clearance was obtained from our centre's clinical research ethics, as per the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki, and all patients gave informed consent before enrolment in the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
70
In the CCEF Group, patients received, as an adjunct to the clinical study protocol, CCEF stimulation (Osteospine®, IGEA SpA, Carpi, Italy) 8 h/die for sixty days.
(1) bed rest for the first twenty-five days and subsequent mobilization with a three-point hyperextension brace; (2) antiresorptive therapy (75 mg risedronate tablet weekly); (3) supplemental calcium carbonate with 1000 mg of elemental calcium daily if needed based on serum calcium concentration; (4) Vitamin D (≤500 IU daily) if the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration at the time of screening was below 16 ng/ml). Analgesic therapy with paracetamol 1000mg tablets was assumed for seven days and further depending on pain intensity; patients were required to report on a specific sheet paracetamol assumption.
VBME resolution in MRI
MRI of the spine
Time frame: Changes of VMBE at 60 days FU
Pain improvement
VAS
Time frame: Changes of pain at 180 days FU compared to baseline
quality of life and back pain improvement
ODI (Oswestry Disability Index)
Time frame: Improvement of quality of life at 180 days FU compared to baseline
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