The Association between the Bone Mineral Density and Spinal Osteoarthritis in Osteoporotic Thoracolumbar Compression Fractures

Chae, Soo Uk; Kim, Yeung Jin; Choi, Byong San; Park, Jae In; Choi, Deok Hwa

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to determine the association between the bone mineral density (BMD) and severity of spinal osteoarthritis (spondylosis) in osteoporotic spinal compression fracture.
METHODS
Fifty six patients were evaluated 66 cases had an osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture between January 2008 and June 2010. The average patient age was 76.2 years (M/F : 8/48). Age and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) were measured, and the BMD was performed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Simple thoracolumbar (T-L) spine lateral radiography was evaluated for three criteria: presence of osteophytes, disc space narrowing and vertebral body sclerosis. The findings were graded 0 to 3 and analyzed statistically for a correlation with the BMD and fractured vertebrae.
RESULTS
Acute compression fractures comprised of 15 cases and the most common site of acute fractures with old fractures was lumbar spine (L1; 30 cases, 45.4%). The average of BMI was 23.32 and BMD (T-score) was -4.47. Pearson's rho showed a positive association between the weight, height and the BMD (P < 0.01). In terms of the BMD versus spondylosis, there was a positive association with high score in the high order cortical bone. Compression fractures occurrence rate in the absent and present of spondylosis was 74.3% and 22.4%, and 69% occur in the spinal segmental with no bony spur with chi-square test (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
In the present of spondylosis was high score of cortical BMD and low rate of compression fracture. Spondylosis could be one of a factor of the occurrence in acute and adjacent compression fracture after old fractures.