Skeletal radiology
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph (VERTOS III).
Little is known about the natural course of pain from vertebral compression fractures (VCF). In this study we evaluated the pain course in conservatively treated patients with back pain and a VCF on the spine radiograph. ⋯ More than half of conservatively treated patients with back pain and VCF had sufficient pain relief at 12 months with most pain decrease in the first 3 months. However, a substantial proportion of patients still reported disabling pain. There were no predictors for the development of chronic pain. Patients with continuing pain ≥3 months after diagnosis of VCF may be candidates for vertebroplasty.