Objective To investigate the curative effect of transpedicular screw fixation plus percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for treatment of severe thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF).Methods Twenty-one patients with severe OVCF presenting to our hospital from July 2012 to May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.There were nine male and twelve female patients,aged 50-78 years (mean,68.8 years).The level of injury was T1 1 in four patients,T12 in six,L1 in five,L2 in three,L3 in two and L4 in one.Time between injury and surgery was 2-16 d (mean,7.5 d).All patients underwent pedicle screw fixation at the injured level combined with PVP.Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for evaluation of lower back pain after operation,Oswestry disability index(ODI) for lower back function,lateral thoracolumbar film for Cobb angle and anterior vertebral height compression ratio,and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score for spinal cord nerve function.Postoperative complications were recorded.Results All patients were followed up for 12-21 months [(15.7 ± 2.9) months].Postoperative studies showed significant differences in VAS [(2.9 ± 1.1) scores],ODI [(30.8 ± 7.5) ％],Cobb angle [(21.5 ± 7.3) °] and anterior vertebral height compression ratio [(44.3 ± 13.9) ％] compared to the preoperative measures (P ＜ 0.05).Cobb angle and anterior vertebral height compression ratio at the final follow-up were (23.4 ± 7.7)° and (49.1 ± 13.7)％ respectively,and had no significant differences from the postoperative measures (P ＞ 0.05).According to the ASIA score,eight patients with neural function injury had one to two level recovery at the final follow-up.Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in seven patients after operation.There was no internal fixation breakage at the final follow-up.Conclusions Transpedicular screw fixation plus PVP can not only restore the height and strength of the injured vertebrae and correct kyphotic deformity,but also relieve low back pain and improve function of the spine.Therefore,the technique is a safe,reliable and effective surgical treatment for severe thoracolumbar OVCF.