Predicting osteoporotic fractures post-vertebroplasty: a machine learning approach with a web-based calculator.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning (ML) model for predicting the risk of new osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in patients who underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and to create a user-friendly web-based calculator for clinical use. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing percutaneous vertebroplasty: A retrospective analysis of patients treated with PVP between June 2016 and June 2018 at Liuzhou People's Hospital was performed. The independent variables of the model were screened using Boruta and modelled using 9 algorithms. Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC_AUC), and clinical utility was assessed by clinical decision curve analysis (DCA). The best models were analysed for interpretability using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and the models were deployed visually using a web calculator. RESULTS: Training and test groups were split using time. The SVM model performed best in both the training group tenfold cross-validation (CV) and validation group AUC, with an AUC of 0.77. DCA showed that the model was beneficial to patients in both the training and test sets. A network calculator developed based on the SHAP-based SVM model can be used for clinical risk assessment ( https://nicolazhang.shinyapps.io/refracture_shap/ ). CONCLUSIONS: The SVM-based ML model was effective in predicting the risk of new-onset OVCF after PVP, and the network calculator provides a practical tool for clinical decision-making. This study contributes to personalised care in spinal surgery.

Age and sex are excellent predictors of bone complications in patients with type 2 diabetes with no history of osteoporotic fracture or treatment for osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with no history of fracture or osteoporosis treatment who are at risk of bone complications through the assessment of bone quality and quantity. METHODS: Of the outpatients attending our clinic during 2021 to 2022, we retrospectively enrolled 137 (men/women: 85/52, median age: 65 years) consecutive patients aged ≥40 years who had T2DM but no history of fracture or osteoporosis treatment. The lumbar spine and femoral neck bone mineral density and the trabecular bone score were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Independent factors associated with bone disease were identified using logistic regression analysis, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. RESULTS: Age and female sex were significantly associated with high ORs for development of bone disease. The integrated risk of bone complications was nearly 40-fold higher in older (≥65 years) women than in younger (<65 years) men. This difference remained after adjustment for the duration of T2DM, body mass index, and HbA1c level. CONCLUSIONS: Older women have the highest risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis among patients with T2DM who have no history of fracture or osteoporosis treatment. These patients should undergo intensive monitoring for bone fragility from an early stage of their disease.

The association of FRAX with predictors of falls in the assessment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in Turkey: the fracture study of Turkey (FRACT study).

Although FRAX is used for fracture risk evaluation, this tool does not include balance and fall risk. The association between the predictors of falls and high FRAX scores we found in this study suggests that risk indicators for falls may add substantial value to FRAX by improving fracture risk prediction. PURPOSE: This observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study aimed to assess the fall risk predictors and explore their association with FRAX in Turkish patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. METHODS: Two hundred and nine (209) women with postmenopausal osteoporosis referred to the Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa were enrolled in the FRACT study (The Fracture Study of Turkey). Clinical risk factors were assessed using the FRAX tool. Tandem stance, Tandem walking, Timed up and go (TUG), and Chair stand tests were performed to assess balance and fall risk. RESULTS: Among patients with a mean age of 67.6 (± 9.7) years, 66 patients (31.6%) had osteoporosis without fractures and 143 patients (68.4%) had fragility fractures. The proportion of patients with poor performance of fall prediction tests was significantly higher in patients with a fragility fracture than those with osteoporosis alone. There was an inverse relationship between dynamic balance tests and the reported number of prior falls in the past year. FRAX score was higher in patients with impaired Tandem stance, Tandem walking, and TUG tests (p = 0.008, p = 0.035, p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Assessment of fall risk predictors should be one of the major pillars in the physical evaluation of osteoporotic patients in the FLS setting. FRAX is a useful tool to determine the fracture risk of patients with both static and dynamic balance impairments. Combining balance assessment with FRAX may be an important step to optimize osteoporosis risk assessment.

Pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis as a major type of premenopausal osteoporosis: a retrospective cohort study based on real-world data.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO), as well as premenopausal osteoporosis, might be a predictor of future fracture. This study aimed to describe the clinical features of PLO as a subtype of premenopausal osteoporosis and to evaluate medical interventions for it. METHODS: From an administrative claims database including 4,224,246 people in Japan, we classified women for whom the date of childbirth had been defined and who had suffered low-trauma fracture between the ages of 18-47 years as the premenopausal osteoporosis group. A fracture site for which the odds ratio for fractures occurring between 5 months before and 12 months after childbirth (around childbirth) was greater than 1 was considered the PLO site. We classified patients with a fracture at the PLO site around childbirth as the PLO group. The control group consisted of 500 women without fragility fractures. We investigated some drugs and diseases to explore fracture-causing factors, as well as medical interventions such as osteoporosis diagnosis, bone densitometry, anti-osteoporosis pharmacotherapy, and lactation inhibitors. RESULTS: In total, 231 parous women were classified into the premenopausal osteoporosis group. The most common fracture was vertebral fracture and was likely to occur around childbirth, followed by distal radius and sacral fractures, which were rare around childbirth. Considering vertebral, pelvic, and proximal femoral fractures as PLO sites, 56 women with 57 PLO fractures were classified into the PLO group. The incidence of PLO was estimated at 460 per million deliveries. Ovulation disorder and high maternal age were associated with the development of PLO. Vertebral fracture was the most common PLO fracture. It was mainly diagnosed a few months, and possibly up to 1 year, postpartum. PLO patients with vertebral fractures underwent more medical interventions than did those with other fractures, but they were still inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: PLO with vertebral fracture was one of the major types of premenopausal osteoporosis. The prevalence of PLO is considered to be higher than previously thought, indicating the presence of potentially overlooked patients. More timely interventions for PLO might lead to the improved management of latent patients with premenopausal osteoporosis and reduce future fracture risk.

Preconception underweight impact on postnatal osteoporotic fracture: a retrospective cohort study using Japanese claims data.

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition and underweight are osteoporosis risk factors. Therefore, improving the health of underweight young women in Japan is an important medical issue. However, few studies have evaluated the association between being preconception underweight and postnatal osteoporotic fractures in young women. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used a Japanese nationwide claims database (JMDC Inc.) to evaluate the effect of preconception underweight on the incidence of osteoporotic fracture within two years after delivery. Data from 16,684 mothers who delivered their first singleton babies between January 2006 and December 2020 were analysed. The combination of disease codes of fractures at sites associated with osteoporosis and medical procedures for fractures was defined as the incidence of osteoporotic fractures, whereas the body mass index (BMI) recorded 12-36 months before delivery was used as the exposure. We estimated the incidence of osteoporotic fractures by BMI category using a Kaplan-Meier curve and examined the fracture risk using Cox hazard regression analyses. RESULTS: Fifty-one women (0.31%) were affected by osteoporotic fractures within two years of delivery. More than 80% of these were rib fractures, and approximately 65% of fractures occurred after the first year postpartum. Preconception underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) was significantly associated with the incidence of postpartum osteoporotic fractures. There was no significant association between low BMI and postnatal fractures, as analysed via multiple categorical logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Appropriate control of preconception weight might be critical to improving the postpartum quality of life, subsequent bone health, and neonatal care environment.

Risk factors for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a case‒control study.

BACKGROUND: Early assessment of the risk of nonunion in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is beneficial to early clinical decision making. However, a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors for OVCF nonunion is lacking. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study to investigate risk factors for OVCF nonunion. Patients who underwent surgery for nonunited OVCFs between January 2011 and December 2021 were eligible for inclusion as cases. Patients with successful OVCF healing confirmed by MRI over the same period were identified as controls. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and fasting blood test data were extracted for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients with nonunited OVCFs and 1044 controls were included to evaluate the risk factors for nonunited OVCFs. There were statistically significant differences in sex, age, number of patients with hypertension, number of patients on bed rest after OVCF and T-score of BMD between the two groups. Logistic regression showed that female patients had a higher risk of OVCF nonunion than male patients and that smoking, drinking, diabetes, and hypertension were risk factors for nonunion of OVCFs, while bed rest and spinal support were protective factors against nonunion of OVCFs. We also found that age, BMD, FBG, and ß-CTX were positively correlated with nonunited OVCFs, and that HGB and 1,25-(OH)2VitD3 level were negatively correlated with nonunited OVCFs. CONCLUSION: Smoking, drinking, diabetes and hypertension were risk factors for nonunion of OVCFs, while bed rest and spinal support were protective factors against nonunion of OVCFs. Age, BMD, FBG and ß-CTX were positively correlated with nonunited OVCFs, while HGB and 1,25-(OH)2VitD3 level were negatively correlated with nonunited OVCFs. Based on the results of our study, we suggest that bed rest or spinal support for at least 3 consecutive weeks is necessary to reduce the risk of OVCFs nonunion.

Low Hounsfield unit values on computed tomography as a potential predictor of vertebral fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The KURAMA cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Hounsfield units (HU) measured using computed tomography (CT) have gained considerable attention for the detection of osteoporosis. This study aimed to investigate whether opportunistic CT could predict vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 233 patients with RA who underwent chest CT were included in this study. The HU values of the anterior 1/3 of the vertebral bodies based on the sagittal plane at T11-L2 after reconstruction were measured. The incidence of vertebral fractures was investigated with respect to the HU value. RESULTS: Vertebral fractures were identified in 32 patients during a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. In patients who experienced vertebral fractures within 2 years of CT imaging, the HU values of the vertebral bodies (T11-L2) were lower than those in patients who did not experience fractures. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified that a T11 HU value of <125 was a risk factor for vertebral fracture within 2 years. Multivariate analysis showed that a T11 HU value of <125 and the existence of prevalent vertebral fractures were significant risk factors for fracture. CONCLUSION: HU measurements of the anterior 1/3 of the vertebral body are a potential predictor for vertebral fractures in patients with RA.

[Vertebral fractures combined with prolonged activated partial prothrombin time: A case report].

With the development of modern medical standards, autoimmune diseases and their associated successive osteoporosis have received increasing attention in recent years. Patients with autoimmune diseases, due to the characteristics of the disease and the prolonged use of glucocorticoid hormone therapy, may affect the bone formation and bone absorption of the patient, followed by severe successive osteoporosis, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Vertebral compression fractures of the spine are common fracture types in patients with osteoporotic fractures. Osteoporosis is a common complication after glucocorticoid therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases. Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) are minimally invasive operation and are commonly used surgical methods for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. However, due to the operation of spinal puncture during the operation, there are serious surgical risks such as bone cement leakage, spinal epidural hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in both PVP and PKP. As a result, it is necessary to evaluate the patient' s body before surgery carefully, especially in the case of blood coagulation. This article reports a case of autoimmune disease patient admitted to Peking University People' s Hospital due to lumbar 4 vertebral compression fracture combined with Sjögren' s syndrome. The patient' s preoperative examination showed that the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was significantly prolonged. After completing the APTT extended screening experiment and lupus anticoagulant factor testing, the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of Peking University People' s Hospital jointly discussed the conclusion that the patient' s test results were caused by an abnormal self-immunity anti-copulant lupus (LAC). Based on the results of the laboratory examination, the patient was considered to be diagnosed with combined antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). For such patients, compared with the patient' s tendency to bleed, we should pay more attention to the risk of high blood clotting in the lower limbs of the patient, pulmonary clots and so on. With timely anti-coagulation treatment, the patient safely passed the peripheral period and was successfully discharged from the hospital. Therefore, for patients with autoimmune diseases with prolonged APTT in the perioperative period, doctors need to carefully identify the actual cause and carry out targeted treatment in order to minimize the risk of surgical and perioperative complications and bring satisfactory treatment results to the patients.

Ten-year fracture risk in Japanese patients with myasthenia gravis: A comprehensive assessment using the fracture risk assessment tool.

BACKGROUND: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an immune disorder that causes muscle weakness with an increasing prevalence, particularly among the elderly in Japan. Glucocorticoid treatment for MG is problematic for bone health because of reduced bone density and increased fracture risk. The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX®) can estimate fracture risk, but its applicability in patients with MG remains uncertain. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 54 patients with MG between April and July 2012. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured, and FRAX® scores were calculated with and without BMD. We also adjusted FRAX® scores based on glucocorticoid dosage. Patients were monitored for major osteoporotic fractures (MOF) until June 2022. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The study group included 12 men and 42 women with a mean age of 62 years. Higher FRAX® scores correlated with increased fracture risk, particularly in the hip and lumbar regions. The 10-year fracture-free rate was significantly lower in the high-FRAX® score group. The FRAX® score using BMD is a significant predictor of MOF risk. The hazard ratio for FRAX® scores was 1.17 (95% CI 1.10-1.26). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the effectiveness of the FRAX® tool in assessing fracture risk among patients with MG. High FRAX® scores correlated with increased fracture risk, emphasizing its importance. These findings support the incorporation of FRAX® assessment into clinical management to enhance patient care and outcomes. However, the small sample size and observational nature suggest a need for further research.

Geriatric nutritional risk index as a predictor for fragility fracture risk in elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 9-year ambispective longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The elderly are prone to fragility fractures, especially those suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) combined with osteoporosis. Although studies have confirmed the association between GNRI and the prevalence of osteoporosis, the relationship between GNRI and fragility fracture risk and the individualized 10-year probability of osteoporotic fragility fractures estimated by FRAX remains unclear. This study aims to delve into the association between the GNRI and a fragility fracture and the 10-year probability of hip fracture (HF) and major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) evaluated by FRAX in elderly with T2DM. METHODS: A total of 580 patients with T2DM aged ≥60 were recruited in the study from 2014 to 2023. This research is an ambispective longitudinal cohort study. All participants were followed up every 6 months for 9 years with a median of 3.8 years through outpatient services, medical records, and home fixed-line telephone interviews. According to the tertiles of GNRI, all subjects were divided into three groups: low-level (59.72-94.56, n = 194), moderate-level (94.56-100.22, n = 193), and high-level (100.22-116.45, n = 193). The relationship between GNRI and a fragility fracture and the 10-year probability of HF and MOF calculated by FRAX was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Spearman correlation analyses, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses, multivariable Cox regression analyses, stratified analyses, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS: Of 580 participants, 102 experienced fragile fracture events (17.59%). ROC analysis demonstrated that the optimal GNRI cut-off value was 98.58 with a sensitivity of 75.49% and a specificity of 47.49%, respectively. Spearman partial correlation analyses revealed that GNRI was positively related to 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25-(OH) D] (r = 0.165, P < 0.001) and bone mineral density (BMD) [lumbar spine (LS), r = 0.088, P = 0.034; femoral neck (FN), r = 0.167, P < 0.001; total hip (TH), r = 0.171, P < 0.001]; negatively correlated with MOF (r = -0.105, P = 0.012) and HF (r = -0.154, P < 0.001). RCS analyses showed that GNRI was inversely S-shaped dose-dependent with a fragility fracture event (P < 0.001) and was Z-shaped with the 10-year MOF (P = 0.03) and HF (P = 0.01) risk assessed by FRAX, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that compared with high-level GNRI, moderate-level [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.950; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.076-3.535; P = 0.028] and low-level (HR = 2.538; 95% CI = 1.378-4.672; P = 0.003) had an increased risk of fragility fracture. Stratified analysis exhibited that GNRI was negatively correlated with the risk of fragility fracture, which the stratification factors presented in the forest plot were not confounding factors and did not affect the prediction effect of GNRI on the fragility fracture events in this overall cohort population (P for interaction > 0.05), despite elderly females aged ≥70, with body mass index (BMI) ≥24, hypertension, and with or without anemia (all P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis identified that the lower-level GNRI group had a higher cumulative incidence of fragility fractures (log-rank, all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study confirms for the first time that GNRI is negatively related to a fragility fracture and the 10-year probability of osteoporotic fragility fractures assessed by FRAX in an inverse S-shaped and Z-shaped dose-dependent pattern in elderly with T2DM, respectively. GNRI may serve as a valuable predictor for fragility fracture risk in elderly with T2DM. Therefore, in routine clinical practice, paying attention to the nutritional status of the elderly with T2DM and giving appropriate dietary guidance may help prevent a fragility fracture event.

Prevalence and risk factors of osteoporotic fracture among the elderly population in China: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Prevalence of osteoporotic fracture (OPF) is increasing with ageing, resulting in a significant financial burden for healthcare. However, research on the nationwide epidemiological data of OPF in Chinese elderly is still scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of OPF in Chinese population aged 60 years or order. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in an elderly Chinese population in five centres. Questionnaire investigation and imaging examination were taken in all participants to identify OPF prevalence and risk factors. Diagnosis of OPF was determined based on imaging of vertebral fractures or history of fall-related fractures. We then used multivariate logistic regression model to analyze the associations between the potential risk factors and OPF. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of OPF in population aged 60 years or older was 24.7% (1,071/4,331), showing an increasing trend with age (P < 0.001). The prevalence of OPF was geographically distinct (P < 0.001), but similar between men and women (P > 0.05). Up to 96.8% of OPFs consisted of vertebral fractures, especially involving T11, T12, and L1 segments. Advanced age (≥ 80), vision loss, severe hearing loss, multiple exercise forms, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and trauma-related vertebral fractures were significantly associated with risk factors, while education level and vitamin D supplementation were associated with protective factors of OPF. CONCLUSION: High prevalence of OPF is a serious threat to bone health among elderly people in China. There is an urgent need for effective strategies to diagnose, prevent, and treat OPF in elderly adults.

Diagnosing Osteoporosis in Diabetes-A Systematic Review on BMD and Fractures.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recently, the American Diabetes Association updated the 2024 guidelines for Standards of Care in Diabetes and recommend that a T-score of - 2.0 in patients with diabetes should be interpreted as equivalent to - 2.5 in people without diabetes. We aimed to evaluate the most recent findings concerning the bone mineral density (BMD)-derived T-score and risk of fractures related to osteoporosis in subjects with diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: The dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan is the golden standard for evaluating BMD. The BMD-derived T-score is central to fracture prediction and signifies both diagnosis and treatment for osteoporosis. However, the increased fracture risk in diabetes is not sufficiently explained by the T-score, complicating the identification and management of fracture risk in these patients. Recent findings agree that subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a higher T-score and higher fracture risk compared with subjects without diabetes. However, the actual number of studies evaluating the direct association of higher fracture risk at higher T-score levels is scant. Some studies support the adjustment based on the 0.5 BMD T-score difference between subjects with T2D and subjects without diabetes. However, further data from longitudinal studies is warranted to validate if the T-score treatment threshold necessitates modification to prevent fractures in subjects with diabetes.

Bone mineral density T-scores comparison between obese and non-obese individuals included in a Fracture Liaison Service following a recent fragility fracture.

We used data from a Fracture Liaison Service to compare the mean T-scores of obese and non-obese patients after a recent fragility fracture. After adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus, T-score values were significantly higher at all measurement sites in obese patients, with a mean difference of 1 SD. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the mean T-scores of obese and non-obese patients after recent fragility fractures. METHODS: Over a period of 5 and a half years, from January 2016 to May 2021, patients from a fracture liaison service were identified and their demographic characteristics, osteoporosis risk factors, BMD T-scores, and fracture sites were compared between obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and non-obese (19 kg/m2 < BMI < 30 kg/m2) patients. RESULTS: A total of 712 patients were included (80.1% women; mean age 73.8 ± 11.3 years). Sixteen % had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 80% had a major osteoporotic fracture (MOF). 135 patients were obese and 577 non-obese, with obese patients younger (p < 0.001) and more frequently female (p = 0.03). Obese patients presented with fewer hip fractures (10% vs. 21%, p = 0.003) and more proximal humerus fractures (16% vs. 7%, p < 0.001) than non-obese patients. After adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus, BMD T-score values were significantly higher at all measurement sites (lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck) in obese patients than in non-obese patients for all types of fractures, with a mean difference of 1 standard deviation (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). The same results were observed in the population limited to MOF. CONCLUSIONS: Given the crucial role of BMD T-score in determining the need for anti-osteoporotic medication following fragility fractures, it is reasonable to question the existing T-score thresholds in obese patients.

Osteoporosis management in patients with chronic kidney disease (ERCOS Study): A challenge in nephrological care.

Fracture risk assessment in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been included in the CKD-MBD ("Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorders") complex in international and national nephrology guidelines, suggesting for the first time the assessment of bone mineral density (BMD) if the results can influence therapeutic decision-making. However, there is very little information on actual clinical practice in this population. The main objective of the ERCOS (ERC-Osteoporosis) study is to describe the profile of patients with CKD G3-5D with osteoporosis (OP) and/or fragility fractures treated in specialized nephrology, rheumatology and internal medicine clinics in Spain. Fifteen centers participated and 162 patients (mostly women [71.2%] postmenopausal [98.3%]) with a median age of 77 years were included. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 36 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 38% of the included patients were on dialysis. We highlight the high frequency of prevalent fragility fractures [37.7%), mainly vertebral (52.5%) and hip (24.6%)], the disproportionate history of patients with glomerular disease compared to purely nephrological series (corticosteroids) and undertreatment for fracture prevention, especially in nephrology consultations. This study is an immediate call to action with the dissemination of the new, more proactive, clinical guidelines, and underlines the need to standardize a coordinated and multidisciplinary care/therapeutic approach to these patients in an efficient way to avoid current discrepancies and therapeutic nihilism.

The effect of stroke on the bone mineral density: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke survivors frequently encounter physical complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of stroke on bone mineral density (BMD) and assess the risk of post-stroke osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews to identify longitudinal studies reporting the influence of stroke on BMD, osteoporosis, and osteoporotic fractures. Pooled analyses were performed utilizing random-effects models. RESULTS: This study included 21 studies with 1,029,742 participants. The mean difference of BMD in the paretic femoral neck between follow-up and initial measurements was -0.07 g/cm2 (95% CI, -0.09 to -0.04), and -0.03 g/cm2 (95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01) in the non-paretic femoral neck. A follow-up length exceeding six months was associated with a more pronounced decrease compared to a follow-up of under six months (MD, -0.08; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.05 vs MD, -0.04; 95% CI, -0.06 to -0.02; P = 0.03). No significant change in lumbar spine BMD was detected post-stroke (MD, -0.00; 95% CI, -0.03 to 0.02), nor was significant change observed in the non-paretic distal radius, proximal humerus, tibia, trochanter, and total hip. Stroke was not associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures (HR, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.95-2.13). CONCLUSION: Stroke survivors undergo significant BMD loss in paralyzed limbs, most notably in the femoral neck. However, BMD in the lumbar spine does not exhibit a significant decrease post-stroke. The risk of post-stroke osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures should be interpreted with caution and needs further investigation.

Analysis of adjacent vertebral fracture after percutaneous vertebroplasty: do radiological or surgical features matter?

PURPOSE: To report the incidence and risk factors of adjacent vertebral fracture (AVF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). We focused to investigate effect of radiological or surgical features on AVF. METHODS: All patients with OVCFs who were treated with PVP between January 2016 and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were followed up at least 12 months after procedure according to treatment protocol. AVF was defined as postoperatively recurrent intractable back pain and subsequently presence of fracture on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adjacent levels. Clinical, radiological, and surgical factors potentially affecting occurrence of AVF were recorded and analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Totally, 1077 patients with 1077 fractured vertebrae who underwent PVP were enrolled in the study, after inclusion and exclusion criteria were met. Mean follow-up time was 24.3 ± 11.9 months (range, 12-59 months). AVF was identified in 98 (9.1%) patients. Univariate analysis showed that seven significant factors related to AVF were older age, non-traumatic fracture, cortical disruption on anterior wall, cortical disruption on lateral wall, basivertebral foramen, type-B leakage and type-C leakage. In multivariate analysis, two clinical factors, older age (P = 0.031) and non-traumatic fracture (P = 0.002), were significantly associated with AVF. However, any radiological or surgical factor did not reach significance in final model analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of AVF after PVP in patients with OVCFs was 9.1% (98/1077). Older age and non-traumatic fracture were two clinical risk factors for AVF. Neither radiological nor surgical feature was significantly correlated with AVF.

Distal Junctional Failures in Degenerative Thoracolumbar Hyperkyphosis.

OBJECTIVE: Degenerative thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis (DTH) is a disease that negatively affects individual health and requires surgical intervention, yet the ideal surgical approach and complications, especially distal junctional failures (DJF), remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate DJF in DTH and to identify the risk factors for DJF so that we can improve surgical decision-making, and advance our knowledge in the field of spinal surgery to enhance patient outcomes. METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 78 cases (late osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture [OVCF], 51; Scheuermann's kyphosis [SK], 17; and degenerative disc diseases [DDD], 10) who underwent corrective surgery in our institute from 2008 to 2019. Clinical outcomes were assessed using health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures, including the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, the Oswestry disability index (ODI), and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system. Multiple radiographic parameters, such as global kyphosis (GK) and thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), were assessed to determine radiographic outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors associated with DJF. RESULTS: HRQOL improved, and GK, TLK decreased at the final follow-up, with a correction rate of 67.7% and 68.5%, respectively. DJF was found in 13 of 78 cases (16.7%), two cases had wedging in the disc (L3-4) below the instrumentation, one case had a fracture of the lowest instrumented vertebrae (LIV), one case had osteoporotic fracture below the fixation, nine cases had pull-out or loosening of the screws at the LIV and three cases (23.1%) required revision surgery. The DJF group had older age, lower computed tomography Hounsfield unit (CT HU), longer follow-up, more blood loss, greater preoperative sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and poorer postoperative JOA and VAS scores (back). The change in TLK level was larger in the non-DJF group. Post-sagittal stable vertebrae (SSV) moved cranially compared with pre-SSV. CONCLUSION: Age, CT HU, length of follow-up, estimated blood loss, and preoperative SVA were independent risk factors for DJF. We recommend fixation of the two vertebrae below the apex vertebrae for DTH to minimize surgical trauma.

Rheumatoid arthritis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and risk of major osteoporotic fracture: prospective data from the HUNT Study, Norway.

OBJECTIVES: Rheumatoid arthritis has been associated with increased fracture risk. New treatments have improved the course of the disease substantially, but it is not clear if this influences fracture risk. We examined if rheumatoid arthritis, overall and according to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), is associated with a risk of major osteoporotic fractures. METHODS: Overall, 92 285 participants in the population-based Nord-Trndelag Health Study (HUNT), Norway were included and linked with hospital records for a validated rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis (n=605), type of DMARD treatment and fracture diagnosis. Participants were followed up until the first major osteoporotic fracture, death, emigration or end of follow-up. Cox regression was used to estimate HRs for fractures among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, overall and by DMARD treatment, compared with participants without rheumatoid arthritis. RESULTS: A total of 9670 fractures were observed during follow-up, of which 88 were among those with rheumatoid arthritis. Compared with the reference group of participants without rheumatoid arthritis, those with the disease had an HR of fracture of 1.41 (95% CI 1.13 to 1.74). The association was largely similar for users of csDMARDs (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.15 to 1.81), whereas the association for bDMARD users was weaker and less precise (HR 1.19; 95% CI 0.64 to 2.21). CONCLUSION: Participants with rheumatoid arthritis had a 40% higher risk of fracture than participants without the disease. A similar fracture risk was observed for conventional synthetic DMARD use, whereas there was weak evidence that the use of biological DMARDs may be associated with a somewhat lower fracture risk.

Analyzing the risk of osteoporosis and fracture in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have been treated with various biologics.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a major risk factor for osteoporosis/osteoporotic fractures. We aimed to elucidate the role of treatment choices among osteoporosis/osteoporotic fractures. METHODOLOGY: We utilized the Chang-Gung Research Database to assess the risks of osteoporosis/osteoporotic fractures among independently treated RA patients, using retrospective time-to-event outcomes analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3509 RA patients with a mean of 63.1 ± 8.6 years were analyzed. Among all, 1300 RA patients (37%) were diagnosed with newly diagnosed osteoporosis. The crude incidence of newly diagnosed osteoporosis was the highest among those treated with other conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs; 74.1 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 66.0-82.3), followed by those with a non-treatment period (68 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 63.1-72.9), methotrxate (MTX) monotherapy (60.7 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 41.2-80.3), MTX plus other cDMARDs (51.9 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 43.4-60.3), and abatacept/rituximab (48.6 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 14.9-82.3). The lowest crude incidence was found in patients treated with anti-TNFi biologics (40.4 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 28.6-52.2) and other biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs; 40.1 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 8.0-72.1). A total of 270 patients (20.8%) suffered from an incident fracture during follow-ups. The crude incidence of fracture was the highest among those treated with abatacept/rituximab (49.0 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 6.0-91.9), followed by those with non-treatment periods (24.3 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 19.3-29.4), other cDMARDs (24.2 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 18.1-30.2), anti-TNFi biologics (20.2 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 8.8-31.6). Other bDMARDs (13.3 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 0-39.2), MTX mono (12.5 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 0.3-24.8), and MTX plus other cDMARDs (11.4 events/1000-PYs, 95%CI 5.4-17.4) were low incidences. CONCLUSION: The treatment option has emerged as a critical determinant in the context of future osteoporosis and osteoporotic fracture risks among RA. These findings offer a valuable resource for clinicians, empowering them to tailor bespoke treatment strategies for RA patients, thereby mitigating the potential for future osteoporosis and fractures.

A meta-analysis of previous falls and subsequent fracture risk in cohort studies.

The relationship between self-reported falls and fracture risk was estimated in an international meta-analysis of individual-level data from 46 prospective cohorts. Previous falls were associated with an increased fracture risk in women and men and should be considered as an additional risk factor in the FRAX® algorithm. INTRODUCTION: Previous falls are a well-documented risk factor for subsequent fracture but have not yet been incorporated into the FRAX algorithm. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in an international meta-analysis, the association between previous falls and subsequent fracture risk and its relation to sex, age, duration of follow-up, and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: The resource comprised 906,359 women and men (66.9% female) from 46 prospective cohorts. Previous falls were uniformly defined as any fall occurring during the previous year in 43 cohorts; the remaining three cohorts had a different question construct. The association between previous falls and fracture risk (any clinical fracture, osteoporotic fracture, major osteoporotic fracture, and hip fracture) was examined using an extension of the Poisson regression model in each cohort and each sex, followed by random-effects meta-analyses of the weighted beta coefficients. RESULTS: Falls in the past year were reported in 21.4% of individuals. During a follow-up of 9,102,207 person-years, 87,352 fractures occurred of which 19,509 were hip fractures. A previous fall was associated with a significantly increased risk of any clinical fracture both in women (hazard ratio (HR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-1.51) and men (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.41-1.67). The HRs were of similar magnitude for osteoporotic, major osteoporotic fracture, and hip fracture. Sex significantly modified the association between previous fall and fracture risk, with predictive values being higher in men than in women (e.g., for major osteoporotic fracture, HR 1.53 (95% CI 1.27-1.84) in men vs. HR 1.32 (95% CI 1.20-1.45) in women, P for interaction = 0.013). The HRs associated with previous falls decreased with age in women and with duration of follow-up in men and women for most fracture outcomes. There was no evidence of an interaction between falls and BMD for fracture risk. Subsequent risk for a major osteoporotic fracture increased with each additional previous fall in women and men. CONCLUSIONS: A previous self-reported fall confers an increased risk of fracture that is largely independent of BMD. Previous falls should be considered as an additional risk factor in future iterations of FRAX to improve fracture risk prediction.