Bed Rest for Patients with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture and Severe Pain?

Occasionally, patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures have pain that is so severe and mobility that is so impaired that hospitalization is required. In this observational study from Japan, researchers addressed the role of bedrest for such patients by comparing outcomes at two hospitals. In one hospital (116 patients), 2 weeks of bedrest was standard; in the other hospital (108 patients), early mobility and rehabilitation were encouraged. Mean age was ≈80 in both groups. Patients with neurological complications, serious comorbidities, or spinal malignancy were excluded.

During 6 months of follow-up, the primary outcome (i.e., invasive intervention, generally kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty) occurred in 9 patients in the no-rest gr…