Abstract
Background/Objectives: The debate continues, despite numerous studies, on whether vertebroplasty (VP) or conservative treatment is more suitable for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Meanwhile, teriparatide (TP) has shown promise in accelerating bone healing in OVCFs. This analysis aims to clarify the potential benefits of conservative treatment using TP over VP from several clinical studies on acute OVCFs. Methods: A literature search was performed, using the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Review, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, for studies published up until September 2023. Five studies [one randomized controlled study (RCT) and four non-RCTs] were included in a qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Data were extracted and analyzed using a random-effects model to obtain the effect size. Results: Five studies with a total of 326 (TP = 147, VP = 179) patients were included. Within the first week of treatment, the VP group showed a significantly greater decrease in their visual analog scale (VAS) scores. There was no significant difference in VAS score reduction between the two groups from one to three months. However, after 6 months, the TP group exhibited significant superiority in VAS scores and bone mineral density (BMD). Furthermore, TP was associated with a reduced number of new-onset OVCFs, with a statistically significant estimated odds ratio of 0.15 (95% CI, 0.04-0.51, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Conservative treatment using TP for acute OVCF has been found to reduce subsequent fractures, provide equivalent or superior pain control, and increase BMD compared to VP. Nonetheless, the meta-analysis results are weak, due to the low level of evidence.