Abstract: Kümmell's disease(KD)is a delayed form of vertebral ischemic necrosis after minor trauma. KD shows delayed vertebral compression fracture, and the most common lesion is at the junction of thoracolumbar spine. Patients with KD often have a history of minor trauma. Although the postoperative pain disappears, the symptoms often relapse and worsen, and kyphosis deformity occurs many years later.The diagnosis of KD depends not only on imaging technology, but also on the comprehensive analysis of patients' medical history and clinical symptoms. Intraspinal fracture caused by trauma is considered to be the most important feature in the diagnosis of KD. Patients with KD can adopt different treatment schemes according to whether there is nerve defect. Patients with KD without nerve defect can be treated with conservative treatment, percutaneous vertebroplasty(PVP), percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)and other methods.However, the above methods are often accompanied by leakage of bone cement.With the development of modern medicine and technology, in order to reduce the leakage of bone cement, clinicians have made a series of improvements to the operation on the basis of PVP, PKP, anterior reconstruction and posterior osteotomy, which effectively reduces the occurrence of complications and improves the quality of life of patients.

Key words: Kümmell's disease, intravertebral fissure, vertebral vacuum, osteoporosis, treatment