Object: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cervical epidural block (CEB) in improving upper extremity muscle strength in individuals diagnosed with cervical disc herniation.
Materials and Methods
5 patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation were included and underwent a single CEB treatment. Patients were monitored weekly for 2 weeks via an outpatient clinic. Hand grip strength of affected side and difference of hand grip strength between affected and unaffected side (DHGS) was recorded using dynamometers; before treatment, immediate after treatment, after 1week and 2weeks of treatment. Pain on neck and radiating pain to upper extremity (UE) were measured using the visual analogue scale (VAS) before treatment and 2weeks after treatment.
Results
The median age of the patients was 48 (37.0-78.0) years, and the affected disc levels were C5-6 (3 patients), C6-7 (1 patient), and C5-6-7 (1 patient) respectively. In terms of pain, VAS of neck decreased from 6.8 to 3.2, and VAS of UE decreased from 7.4 to 3.0. Both hand grip strength of affected side and DHGS showed improvement when comparing before and after treatment (immediate, 1 week and 2 weeks after treatment) (p<0.001). However, there was no difference between immediate, 1 week and 2 weeks after treatment. The result was same for adjusting age and sex as covariates (p<0.001).
Conclusions
These findings suggest that CEB has the potential in improving pain and UE muscle weakness associated with cervical disc herniation. Further large-scale studies are necessary to validate these preliminary outcomes and establish the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of CEB in managing cervical disc herniation.

Purpose
This study aimed to evaluate whether percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) contributes to vertebral height restoration and sagittal alignment correction in osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF), focusing on thoracolumbar junction fractures.
Methods
A retrospective review of 59 patients with single-level OVCF at T10–L2 treated with PVP was performed. Vertebral heights (anterior, middle, and posterior) and sagittal alignment (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, and segmental Cobb's angle) were measured preoperatively, at 3 months, and at 6 months. Clinical outcomes included visual analog scale and EuroQol Five Dimensions.
Results
Significant pain relief and improvement in quality of life were observed at 6 months postoperatively. Vertebral height restoration, particularly in the anterior and middle portions, was noted at 3 months; however, partial loss of the restored height occurred by 6 months. Most sagittal alignment parameters showed no significant postoperative change, although lumbar lordosis significantly increased, resulting in a reduced pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis mismatch.
Conclusion
PVP provides meaningful clinical improvement in thoracolumbar OVCFs and offers early vertebral height restoration; however, this radiologic benefit is not sustained over time. While limited improvement in lumbar lordosis was observed, PVP does not substantially correct global sagittal alignment. These findings suggest that PVP should be considered primarily a pain-relieving and stabilizing procedure rather than a deformity-correcting intervention.