Association of osteoporotic fractures of femoral neck and femoral neck geometric parameters in native Chinese women.

BACKGROUND: Although it is generally believed that the femoral neck fracture is related to the femoral neck geometric parameters (FNGPs), the association between the risk of osteoporotic fracture of the femoral neck and FNGPs in native Chinese women is still unclear. METHODS: A total of 374 female patients (mean age 70.2 ± 9.32 years) with osteoporotic fracture of the femoral neck, and 374 non-fracture control groups were completely matched with the case group according to the age ratio of 1:1. Using DXA bone densitometer to measured eight FNGPs: the outer diameter (OD), cross-sectional area (CSA), cortical thickness (CT), endocortical diameter (ED), buckling ratio (BR), section modulus (SM), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), and compressive strength index (CSI) at the narrowest point of the femoral neck. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the average values of OD (2.9%), ED (4.5%), and BR (26.1%) in the patient group significantly increased (p = 0.015 to < 0.001), while CSA (‒15.3%), CT (‒18.2%), SM (‒10.3%), CSMI (‒6.4%), and CSI (‒10.8%) significantly decreased (all p < 0.001). The prevalence of osteoporosis in the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip was, respectively, 82%, 81%, and 65% in fracture patients. Cox proportional hazard model analysis showed that in the age adjusted model, the fracture hazard ratio (HR) of CSA, CT, BR, SM, and CSI significantly increased (HRs = 1.60‒8.33; 95% CI = 1.08‒16.6; all p < 0.001). In the model adjusted for age and femoral neck BMD, HRs of CT (HRs = 3.90‒8.03; 95% CI = 2.45‒15.1; all p < 0.001) and BR (HRs = 1.62‒2.60; 95% CI = 1.20‒5.44; all p < 0.001) were still significantly increased. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the majority of osteoporotic fractures of the femoral neck of native Chinese women occur in patients with osteoporosis. CT thinning or BR increase of FNGPs may be independent predictors of fragility fracture of femoral neck in native Chinese women unrelated to BMD.

Full-Endoscopic Foraminal Decompression for Foraminal Stenosis Following Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture in an Elderly Woman Under Local Anesthesia:A Case Report.

Osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) is common in the elderly population. In this report, we describe a case with radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis caused by OVF in a very elderly patient that was treated successfully by full-endoscopic foraminotomy under local anesthesia. The patient was an 89-year-old woman who presented with a chief complaint of left leg pain for 5 years. She visited a couple of hospitals and finally consulted us to determine the exact cause of the pain. Computed tomography scans were obtained and selective nerve root block at L3 was performed. The diagnosis was radiculopathy at L3 due to foraminal stenosis following OVF. The patient had severe heart disease, so we decided to avoid surgery under general anesthesia and planned full-endoscopic spine surgery under local anesthesia. We performed transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy at L3-L4 to decompress the L3 nerve root. The leg pain disappeared completely immediately after surgery. Postoperative computed tomography confirmed appropriate bone resection. The leg pain did not recur during a year of postoperative follow-up. OVF may cause lumbar radiculopathy as a result of foraminal stenosis, and transforaminal full-endoscopic lumbar foraminotomy under local anesthesia would be the best option in an elderly patient with poor general condition. J. Med. Invest. 71 : 179-183, February, 2024.

Exploring deep learning radiomics for classifying osteoporotic vertebral fractures in X-ray images.

Purpose: To develop and validate a deep learning radiomics (DLR) model that uses X-ray images to predict the classification of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs). Material and methods: The study encompassed a cohort of 942 patients, involving examinations of 1076 vertebrae through X-ray, CT, and MRI across three distinct hospitals. The OVFs were categorized as class 0, 1, or 2 based on the Assessment System of Thoracolumbar Osteoporotic Fracture. The dataset was divided randomly into four distinct subsets: a training set comprising 712 samples, an internal validation set with 178 samples, an external validation set containing 111 samples, and a prospective validation set consisting of 75 samples. The ResNet-50 architectural model was used to implement deep transfer learning (DTL), undergoing -pre-training separately on the RadImageNet and ImageNet datasets. Features from DTL and radiomics were extracted and integrated using X-ray images. The optimal fusion feature model was identified through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression. Evaluation of the predictive capabilities for OVFs classification involved eight machine learning models, assessed through receiver operating characteristic curves employing the "One-vs-Rest" strategy. The Delong test was applied to compare the predictive performance of the superior RadImageNet model against the ImageNet model. Results: Following pre-training separately on RadImageNet and ImageNet datasets, feature selection and fusion yielded 17 and 12 fusion features, respectively. Logistic regression emerged as the optimal machine learning algorithm for both DLR models. Across the training set, internal validation set, external validation set, and prospective validation set, the macro-average Area Under the Curve (AUC) based on the RadImageNet dataset surpassed those based on the ImageNet dataset, with statistically significant differences observed (P<0.05). Utilizing the binary "One-vs-Rest" strategy, the model based on the RadImageNet dataset demonstrated superior efficacy in predicting Class 0, achieving an AUC of 0.969 and accuracy of 0.863. Predicting Class 1 yielded an AUC of 0.945 and accuracy of 0.875, while for Class 2, the AUC and accuracy were 0.809 and 0.692, respectively. Conclusion: The DLR model, based on the RadImageNet dataset, outperformed the ImageNet model in predicting the classification of OVFs, with generalizability confirmed in the prospective validation set.

Percutaneous kyphoplasty with or without posterior pedicle screw fixation for the management of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with nonunion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the radiographic outcomes, clinical outcomes and complications of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) with and without posterior pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) in the treatment of severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (sOVCF) with nonunion. METHODS: This study involved 51 patients with sOVCF with nonunion who underwent PKP or PPSF + KP. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, volume of injected bone cement, operation costs and hospital stays were all recorded. In addition, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed separately for each patient before and after surgery. RESULTS: Compared with the PPSF + KP group, the PKP group had shorter operation time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer operation costs. However, cobb's angle improvement (13.4 ± 4.3° vs. 21.4 ± 5.3°), VWR improvement ratio (30.4 ± 11.5% vs. 52.8 ± 12.7%), HA (34.9 ± 9.0% vs. 63.7 ± 7.6%) and HM (28.4 ± 11.2% vs. 49.6 ± 7.7%) improvement ratio were all higher in PPSF + KP group than that in PKP group. In addition, the ODI index and VAS score in both groups were significantly decreased at the postoperative and final follow-up. PKP group's postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than that in PPSF + KP group, but there was no statistically significant difference in VAS score at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: PKP and PPSF + KP can both effectively relieve the pain associated with sOVCF with nonunion. PPSF + KP can achieve more satisfactory vertebral reduction effects compared to PKP. However, PKP was less invasive and it has more advantages in shortening operation time and hospital stay, as well as decreasing intraoperative blood loss and operation costs.

Percutaneous kyphoplasty through unilateral puncture on the convex side for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture with scoliosis.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical safety, accuracy, and efficacy of percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) surgery using an enhanced method of unilateral puncture on the convex side for the treatment of painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (P-OVCF) with scoliosis. METHODS: Clinical and radiographic data of P-OVCF patients with scoliosis who underwent PKP via unilateral puncture on the convex side from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. This technique's detailed surgical steps and tips were described. The local kyphosis angle (LKA), scoliosis Cobb angle (SCA), and local scoliosis Cobb angle (LSCA) were measured using X-ray and compared at pre-operation, post-operation, and the last follow-up. The width of pedicle (POW), inner inclination angle (IIA), lateral distance (LD), and puncture course length (PCL) were measured on the axial computed tomography image and compared between two sides. Postoperative computed tomography was employed to evaluate the condition of cement distribution and puncture. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for back pain (BP). RESULTS: Thirty-six patients, 23 women and 13 men, with an average age of 76.31 ± 6.28 years were monitored for 17.69 ± 4.70 months. The median surgical duration of single vertebrae was 35 min. The volume of bone cement for single vertebrae was 3.81 ± 0.87 ml and the proportion of sufficient cement distribution of the patients was 97.22. LKA was considerably improved from pre-operation to post-operation and sustained at the last follow-up. SCA and LSCA were not significantly modified between these three-time points. IIA, PCL, and LD were lower on the convex side than on the concave side. POW was considerably wider on the convex side. The ODI and VAS-BP scores were significantly improved after surgery and sustained during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Combining with the proper assessment of the pre-injured life status of patients, PKP surgery using unilateral puncture on the convex side for the treatment of P-OVCF with scoliosis can achieve safe, excellent clinical, and radiographic outcomes.

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.

Surgical management of lower limb radiculopathy following acute singe-level osteoporotic vertebral fracture of lower lumbar spine in geriatric patient: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Radiculopathy of the lower limb after acute osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) in the lower lumbar spine is uncommon in geriatric patients. Moreover, surgical intervention is generally recommended in patients who are irresponsive to conservative treatment. Determining an optimum surgical strategy is challenging considering the poor general condition of this population. Thus, herein, we established an algorithm for surgically managing this clinical scenario, hoping to provide a reference for making a surgical decision. METHODS: We retrospectively studied patients who suffered from new-onset radiculopathy of the lower limb after acute single-level OVFs in the lower lumbar spine and eventually underwent surgical intervention at our department. Information on the demographics, bone quality, AO spine classification of the vertebral fracture, pre-existing degenerative changes, including foraminal stenosis and lumbar disc herniation, and surgical intervention type was collected. Additionally, clinical outcomes, including preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI), and MacNab criterion for response to surgery, were evaluated. RESULTS: From September 2019 to December 2021, a total of 22 patients with a mean age of 68.59 ± 9.74 years were analyzed. The most involved vertebra was L5 (54.5%), followed by L4 (27.3%) and L3 (18.2%). Among the 22 patients, 15 (68.2%) were diagnosed with the A1 type fracture of AO classification, and among them, 11 (73.3%) were characterized by the collapse of the inferior end plate (IEP). Three patients (13.6%) suffered from A2-type fractures, whereas four patients (18.2%) suffered from A3-type fractures. Pre-existing degenerative changes were observed in 12 patients (54.5%) of the patients. A total of 16 patients (72.7%) were treated by percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP). Additionally, three patients underwent posterior instrumentation and fusion, two patients underwent a secondary endoscopic foraminoplasty, and one patient underwent a secondary radiofrequency ablation. The mean follow-up period was 17.42 ± 9.62 months. The mean VAS scores for leg and back pain and ODI decreased significantly after the surgery (P < 0.05). The total satisfaction rate at the last follow-up was 90.9% per the Macnab criterion. CONCLUSION: Patients with OVFs in the IEP are predisposed to suffer from radiculopathy of the lower limb. PKP alone or in combination with other minimally invasive surgical strategies is safe and effective in treating stable fractures. Additionally, aggressive surgical intervention should be considered in patients with unstable fractures or severe foraminal encroachment.

Deep learning in the radiologic diagnosis of osteoporosis: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by low bone mass, damaged bone microstructure, increased bone fragility, and susceptibility to fractures. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, a series of studies have reported deep learning applications in the screening and diagnosis of osteoporosis. The aim of this review was to summary the application of deep learning methods in the radiologic diagnosis of osteoporosis. METHODS: We conducted a two-step literature search using the PubMed and Web of Science databases. In this review, we focused on routine radiologic methods, such as X-ray, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, used to opportunistically screen for osteoporosis. RESULTS: A total of 40 studies were included in this review. These studies were divided into three categories: osteoporosis screening (n = 20), bone mineral density prediction (n = 13), and osteoporotic fracture risk prediction and detection (n = 7). CONCLUSIONS: Deep learning has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for osteoporosis screening. However, clinical commercialization of a diagnostic model for osteoporosis remains a challenge.

Postmenopausal women with normal BMD who have fractures have deteriorated bone microarchitecture: A prospective analysis from The OFELY study.

Most postmenopausal women who sustain fragility fracture (Fx) have their areal bone mineral density (BMD) above the osteoporosis threshold. A sizeable proportion of them have normal aBMD. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the association of fragility Fx with bone microarchitecture (MA) assessed by high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in postmenopausal women without low BMD. At the 14th annual follow-up of the OFELY study, we measured bone MA at the distal radius and tibia with HR-pQCT in addition to areal BMD with DXA, in 586 postmenopausal women. Among them, 166 (29 %) women, mean (SD) age 65 (8) yr, had normal BMD defined as a T score ≥ -1 at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip. During a median [IQR] 15 [14-15] yr of follow-up, 46 of those women sustained incident fragility Fx, including 19 women with a major osteoporotic Fx (clinical spine, forearm, proximal humerus, hip). Women who sustained Fx did not differ for age, BMI, tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, falls, FRAX®, aBMD, and TBS compared with women without incident Fx. In contrast, they had significant impairment of volumetric densities, cortical area (Ct. Ar) and thickness (Ct. Th), stiffness (K), and estimated failure load (FL) at the radius compared with women without incident Fx. At the radius, each SD decrease of volumetric densities, Ct.Ar, Ct.Th, K, and estimated FL were significantly associated with an increased risk of all fragility fractures with hazard ratios (HR) from 1.44 to 1.56 and of major osteoporotic fractures (HR from 1.66 to 2.57). Lesser impairment of bone MA was seen at the tibia. We conclude that even in women with normal areal BMD fragility fractures are associated with deterioration of bone microarchitecture.

Evaluation of Percutaneous Unilateral Kyphoplasty Results in Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures Using Individual 3D Printed Guide Template Support.

AIM: To compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) surgeries performed using 3D printing technology in patients with osteoporotic compression fractures to conventional unilateral PKP surgeries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with acute painful single-level osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) who need surgical treatment were divided into two groups: group A (patients who had 3D template-guided PKP) and group B (patients who conventional PKP). To compare the two surgical procedures, Total Absorbed Radiation Dose (TARD), pre- and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores, and Total Surgery Time (TST) were calculated and compared between groups in both surgical groups. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients with single-level OVCF who were experiencing acute pain were successfully operated on, with 22 patients in each group. TARD (2.6 ± 0.4 mGy vs. 6.1 ± 1.9 mGy, p < 0.05) and TST (12.4 ± 2.6 min vs. 20.2 ± 3.2 min, p < 0.05) differed significantly different between groups A and B. There was no statistically significant difference between the patient groups in preoperative and postoperative VAS values (p > 0.05). Cement leakage was lower in group A (3/22, 13.6%) than in group B (6/22, 27.3%) (p > 0.05). There were no neurological complications or infections in either group. CONCLUSION: When compared to the conventional procedure, the unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty method was supported by a 3D printing guide template. By reducing operative time and radiation exposure, tt has resulted in a more effective surgical procedure for patients and a safer surgical procedure for surgeons and anaesthesiologists.

Hybrid transformer convolutional neural network-based radiomics models for osteoporosis screening in routine CT.

OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is crucial to prevent osteoporotic vertebral fracture and complications of spine surgery. We aimed to conduct a hybrid transformer convolutional neural network (HTCNN)-based radiomics model for osteoporosis screening in routine CT. METHODS: To investigate the HTCNN algorithm for vertebrae and trabecular segmentation, 92 training subjects and 45 test subjects were employed. Furthermore, we included 283 vertebral bodies and randomly divided them into the training cohort (n = 204) and test cohort (n = 79) for radiomics analysis. Area receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) and decision curve analysis (DCA) were applied to compare the performance and clinical value between radiomics models and Hounsfield Unit (HU) values to detect dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) based osteoporosis. RESULTS: HTCNN algorithm revealed high precision for the segmentation of the vertebral body and trabecular compartment. In test sets, the mean dice scores reach 0.968 and 0.961. 12 features from the trabecular compartment and 15 features from the entire vertebral body were used to calculate the radiomics score (rad score). Compared with HU values and trabecular rad-score, the vertebrae rad-score suggested the best efficacy for osteoporosis and non-osteoporosis discrimination (training group: AUC = 0.95, 95%CI 0.91-0.99; test group: AUC = 0.97, 95%CI 0.93-1.00) and the differences were significant in test group according to the DeLong test (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study demonstrated the superiority of the HTCNN-based vertebrae radiomics model for osteoporosis discrimination in routine CT.

Simplified S1 Vertebral Bone Quality Score in the Assessment of Patients with Vertebral Fragility Fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the S1 vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score in assessing bone quality among patients with vertebral fragility fractures (VFF). Additionally, whether the combination of S1 VBQ and Hounsfield unit (HU) values improves the predictive accuracy of VFF. METHODS: Using lumbar noncontrast computed tomography and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, we measured L1 HU values, S1 VBQ, and L1-L4 VBQ. To assess their predictive performance for VFF, we constructed receiver operating characteristic curves. We also compared the diagnostic efficacy of HU values with that of S1 VBQ and L1--L4 VBQ values for the joint diagnosis of VFF. The Delong test was used to compare the value of individual or combined predictions of VFF. RESULTS: In comparison to the nonfracture group, all patients exhibited markedly elevated S1 VBQ and L1--L4 VBQ and notably reduced HU values (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that elevated S1 VBQ, increased L1--L4 VBQ, and decreased HU values independently correlated with VFF development. The areas under the curve for VFF prediction were 0.806 for S1 VBQ, 0.799 for L1--L4 VBQ, and 0.820 for HU values. According to the Delong test, the combination of HU values with S1 VBQ/L1--L4 VBQ significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The simplified S1 VBQ is a valuable tool for predicting the occurrence of VFF and can be used as an alternative to the L1--L4 VBQ. In addition, the combination of S1 VBQ and HU values can significantly improve the predictive value of VFF.

Association between BMI and osteoporotic fractures at different sites in Chinese women: a case-control retrospective study in Changsha.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporotic fractures are a growing problem in an aging society. The association between body mass index (BMI) and osteoporotic fractures varies by fracture site and ethnicity. Limited knowledge exists regarding this association in native Chinese, particularly utilizing local databases as reference sources. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between BMI and osteoporotic fractures at different sites in Chinese women. METHODS: Three thousand ninety-eight female patients with radiographic fractures and 3098 age- and sex-matched healthy controls without fractures were included in the study. Both of them underwent assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), with BMD measurements calculated using our own BMD reference database. Participants were classified into underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 24.0 kg/m2), overweight (24 ≤ BMI < 28 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2) according to the Chinese BMI classification standard. RESULTS: There were 2296 (74.1%) vertebral fractures, 374 (12.1%) femoral neck fractures, and 428 (13.8%) other types of fractures in the case group. Bone mineral density (BMD) was almost lower in the fracture groups compared to the control groups (p = 0.048 to < 0.001). Compared with normal weight, underweight had a protective effect on total [odds ratio (OR) = 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49 -0.75; P< 0.001], and lumbar fractures (OR = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.41 - 0.67; P < 0.001), while obesity was associated with an increased risk for total (OR = 2.26; 95% CI, 1.85 - 2.76; P < 0.001), lumbar (OR = 2.17; 95% CI, 1.72 - 2.73; P < 0.001), and femoral neck fractures (OR = 4.08; 95% CI, 2.18 - 7.63; P < 0.001). Non-linear associations were observed between BMI and fractures: A J-curve for total, lumbar, and femoral neck fractures, and no statistical change for other types of fractures. Underweight was found to be a risk factor for other types of fracturess after adjusting for BMD (OR = 2.29; 95% CI, 1.09 - 4.80; P < 0.001). Osteoporosis and osteopenia were identified as risk factors for almost all sites of fracture when compared to normal bone mass. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight has a protective effect on total and lumbar spine fractures in Chinese women, while obesity poses a risk factor for total, lumbar, and femoral neck fractures. The effect of BMI on fractures may be mainly mediated by BMD.

Burden of comorbidities: Osteoporotic vertebral fracture during non-small cell lung cancer - the BONE study.

INTRODUCTION: Immunotherapy and targeted therapy have extended life expectancy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, shifting it into a chronic condition with comorbidities, including osteoporosis. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OPVF) during NSCLC follow-up, identify risk factors of OPVF, and determine the impact on overall survival (OS). METHODS: We performed a longitudinal single-center retrospective cohort study involving patients with histologically proven NSCLC of any stage. Chest-abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CAP CT) at diagnosis and during follow-up were double-blind reviewed to determine OPVF site, count, type, time to incident OPVF, and trabecular volumetric bone density (TVBD). An institutional expert committee adjudicated discrepancies. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the occurrence of incident OPVF. OS was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: We included 289 patients with a median follow-up of 29.7 months. OPVF prevalence was 10.7% at inclusion and 23.2% at the end of follow-up. Cumulative incidence was 12.5%, with an incidence rate of 4 per 100 patient-years. Median time to incident OPVF was 13 months (IQR: 6.7-21.2). Seven of the 36 patients with incident OPVF received denosumab or bisphosphonates. In multivariable analysis, independent risk factors for incident OPVF were BMI < 19 kg/m2 (OR: 5.62, 95%CI 1.84-17.20, p = 0.002), lower TVBD (OR: 0.982 per HU, 95%CI 0.97-0.99, p = 0.001) and corticosteroid use (OR: 4.77, 95%CI: 1.76-12.89, p = 0.001). OPVF was not significantly associated with OS. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis should be screened for in NSCLC patients. Thoracic oncologists must broaden the use of steroid-induced osteoporosis recommendations.

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.

Comparison of the predictive values of MRI-based vertebral bone quality scores for the determination of osteoporosis in different diseases.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the consistency of vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores for assessing osteoporosis across different etiologies and explore the predictive value of various VBQ scores for fragility vertebral fractures. METHODS: Patients with fragility fractures were matched by age and sex to patients with lumbar degeneration. VBQ scores were calculated in T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Differential analysis of bone quality was performed based on etiology. RESULTS: A total of 96 inpatients were retrospectively enrolled. VBQT1 scores were only sensitive to osteoporotic bone in degenerative group (p < 0.01), failing to identify osteoporosis in fractured group (p > 0.05). For the degenerative group, the area under the curve (AUC) using the VBQT1 scores to differentiate osteoporosis was 0.72. After controlling the confounding variables, only VBQT2 scores were significantly higher in fractured group than degenerative group, with a greater AUC of 0.82 predicting fragility fractures. VBQT1 scores moderately correlated with femoral neck T-scores in degenerative group (r = -0.45, p < 0.01) but not in fractured group (r = -0.24, p > 0.05). VBQT2 scores were not associated with femoral neck T-scores (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of VBQs scores in assessing osteoporosis post-fracture. Only non-fractured patients' bone quality is fully susceptible to VBQT1 scores. While VBQT1 scores may not correlate with fragility fractures, VBQT2 scores present a viable alternative.

'Skip' osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures caused by electrical injury: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Electrical injuries rarely result in fractures, such as long bone fractures and spinal fractures. A few articles have reported osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) caused by electrical injuries. Here, we present a rare case of 37-year-old male suffering from the 9th thoracic (T9) and 5th lumbar (L5) OVCFs after receiving a electric shock. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old Han male experienced an electric shock (480 V direct current) at the working time and felt immediately serious back pain. He did not fall and lose consciousness. X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging showed acute OVCFs, as well as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry indicated osteoporosis. Normal laboratory tests can avoid secondary osteoporosis resulting from metabolic diseases and tumors. Finally, he was diagnosed with acute discontinuous OVCFs (T9 and L5). The patient denied having a history of back pain, whereas, he had a history of smoking, alcohol abuse, and congenital heart disease (tetralogy of Fallot) were associated with osteoporosis. Considering no local kyphosis and < 50% anterior body compression, we selected conservative treatment for this patient. At a 1-year and 3-year follow-up, the lateral thoracic and lumbar radiography demonstrated no instability of the spine, and the back pain has been relieved. CONCLUSIONS: This rare case reminds us the importance of consulting a detailed medical history when we encounter young patients receiving electrical injuries. Discontinuously OVCFs must not be overlooked, even though we encounter a young man.

Comparison of radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

Teriparatide and denosumab, anti-osteoporosis medications with different mechanisms, have been widely used in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) considered as advanced osteoporosis. Teriparatide has been shown to enhance bone formation and fracture healing in OVF, but there are still no sufficient evidences discussing about the role of denosumab in newly developed OVF. In this study, we found the similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in thoracolumbar (TL) OVF, and teriparatide showed a more frequent incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation compared to denosumab. INTRODUCTION: Teriparatide and denosumab have been widely used to treat advanced osteoporosis and prevent subsequent fractures in patients with OVCF. Unlike teriparatide, which is considered to be effective in fracture healing, there is still no clear role and evidence for the effect of denosumab in acute OVCF. This study compared the radiological and functional outcomes of conservative treatment with teriparatide and denosumab in TL-OVF. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 78 women with mean age of 74.69 ± 7.66 (60-92) years diagnosed as a TL-OVF with no neurological deficits. All patients were treated conservatively with teriparatide (34 of group T, once-daily 20 µg) or denosumab (44 of group D, once-6 months 60 mg) for 6 months. We evaluated the radiological deformation (kyphotic angle, segmental vertebral kyphotic angle, and compression ratio) and the incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation (FUPB) and functional outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 0, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: In the radiological deformation and functional outcomes, there were no significant differences at 0, 3, and 6 months between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, the incidence of FUPB at 6 months was higher in group T (20/34, 58.8%) compared to group D (11/44, 25.0%) (P = 0.004), and teriparatide was the most statistically significant factor for achieving FUPB (OR 4.486, P = 0.012) in multivariable logistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Teriparatide and denosumab, despite of their different pharmacological mechanisms, showed similar radiological deformation and functional outcomes in the conservative treatment of TL-OVF. However, teriparatide showed a significantly higher incidence of fracture union with paravertebral bone bridge formation.

Vertebral fracture severity assessment on anteroposterior radiographs with a new semi-quantitative technique.

We developed a new tool to assess the severity of osteoporotic vertebral fracture using radiographs of the spine. Our technique can be used in patient care by helping to stratify patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures into appropriate treatment pathways. It can also be used for research purposes. PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to propose a semi-quantitative (SQ) grading scheme for osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs. METHODS: On AP radiographs, the vertebrae are divided into right and left halves, which are graded (A) vertical rectangle, (B) square, (C) traverse rectangle, and (D) trapezoid; whole vertebrae are graded (E) transverse band or (F) bow-tie. Type A and B were compared with normal and Genant SQ grade 1 OVF, Type C and D with grade 2 OVF, and Type E and F with grade 3 OVF. Spine AP radiographs and lateral radiographs of 50 females were assessed by AP radiographs SQ grading. After training, an experienced board-certified radiologist and a radiology trainee assessed the 50 AP radiographs. RESULTS: The height-to-width ratio of the half vertebrae varied 1.32-1.48. On lateral radiographs, 84 vertebrae of the 50 patients had OVFs (38 grade 1, 24 grade 2, and 22 grade 3). On AP radiographs, the radiologist correctly assigned 84.2%, 91.7%, and 77.2% and the trainee correctly assigned 68.4%, 79.2%, and 81.8% of grade 1, 2, and 3 OVFs, respectively. Compared with lateral radiographs, the radiologist had a weighted Kappa of 0.944 including normal vertebrae and 0.883 not including normal vertebrae, while the corresponding Kappa values for the trainee were 0.891 and 0.830, respectively. CONCLUSION: We propose a new semi-quantitative grading system for vertebral fracture severity assessment on AP spine radiographs.