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Analysis of institutional authors

Gutierrez-Gonzalez R, Royuela A, Zamarron AAuthor

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Vertebral compression fractures: pain relief, progression and new fracture rate comparing vertebral augmentation with brace

Publicated to:BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS. 24 (1): 898- - 2023-12-01 24(1), DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-07041-1

Authors: Gutierrez-Gonzalez, R; Royuela, A; Zamarron, A

Affiliations

Autonomous Univ Madrid, Fac Med, Dept Surg, Arzobispo Morcillo 4, Madrid 28029, Spain - Author
Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda - Author
Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda , Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid - Author
Puerta de Hierro Univ Hosp, Biomed Res Inst, Biostat Unit, IDIPHISA CIBERESP, Manuel de Falla 1, Madrid 28222, Spain - Author
Puerta Hierro Univ Hosp, Dept Neurosurg, IDIPHISA Manuel de Falla 1, Madrid 28222, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Background: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is the third most frequent fragility fracture in the world. Conservative treatment, vertebroplasty, and kyphoplasty are all recognized therapies. However, diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations must be more consistent when comparing clinical guidelines. This study aims to compare the efficacy of vertebral augmentation therapy and conservative management for treating VCFs, the risk of subsequent complications, and the length of hospital stay. Method: All patients over 50 years old with a diagnosis of thoracic or lumbar VCF without underlying oncological process, treated conservatively or surgically, and consecutively attended at our department from January 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively selected for analysis. Patients who missed follow-up or died during the first three months were excluded. Results: A total of 573 cases were selected for analysis. Most patients were treated conservatively (85.3%). Both groups were homogenous regarding epidemiological and clinical features. The median time elapsed to achieve pain relief was significantly lower in the surgical cohort (4.5 vs. 10 weeks, p < 0.001), and the proportion of patients reporting pain at the first outpatient visit was also significantly lower with a vertebral augmentation procedure (p = 0.004). The new fracture rate and the adjacent level rate did not differ significantly when comparing both treatments, whereas the progression of the diagnosed fracture was more frequent in the conservative group (4.8% vs. 29.7%; p < 0.001). The median hospital stay was significantly lower in the conservative group (3 vs. 10 days; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Surgical treatment (vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty) of VCFs was associated with sooner pain relief without an increased risk of new or adjacent fractures. Moreover, the progression of treated fractures was significantly lower in the surgical cohort. The only unfavorable aspect was the more extended hospital stay compared with the conservative treatment group.

Keywords

balloon kyphoplastybone diseasesbone diseases, metaboliccollapsecompressionconservative treatmentefficacyfractures, compressionkyphoplastymetabolicrecollapserisk-factorsspinal fracturesvertebroplastyBone diseases, metabolicFracturesFractures, compressionKyphoplastyPercutaneous vertebroplastySpinal fracturesVertebroplasty

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal BMC MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 42/136, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Orthopedics. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 3.33, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-17, the following number of citations:

  • Scopus: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-17:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 16.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 16 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.85.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 2 (Altmetric).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (GUTIERREZ GONZALEZ, RAQUEL) .