Smartphone Measurement Application for Percutaneous Vertebroplasty in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures: A Randomized Trial.
Jing Wang, Jin Zhang
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This single-center randomized controlled trial compared a LiDAR-enabled smartphone measurement application with conventional anatomical localization and C-arm verification in 43 patients with acute thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty. The application group had shorter localization time, fewer fluoroscopic images during localization, and less time correcting localization deviations (all P < 0.05). Initial localization accuracy was numerically higher but not significantly different between groups. Pain and disability scores improved in both groups, with no significant between-group differences at 3 months.
Key findings
- The smartphone application shortened localization time, reduced fluoroscopic images during localization, and shortened correction time; all comparisons had P < 0.05.
- Initial localization accuracy was numerically higher with the application, but the between-group difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).
- VAS and ODI scores improved in both groups, with no significant between-group differences at 3 months (P > 0.05).
Why it matters
Vertebral-level localization is an important step in vertebroplasty, and repeated fluoroscopic checks can extend the workflow. These findings suggest that transferring imaging-derived measurements to the patient's back with a smartphone application may improve localization efficiency. However, fewer images do not establish a proportional reduction in radiation exposure, and the trial found no detectable advantage in short-term pain or disability outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The trial was single-center and included 43 patients. Radiation dose was not directly quantified, and clinical outcomes were assessed at 3 months.