Background:

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and the two are considered to be different diseases that result from different pathomechanisms. An association between spinal osteoporosis and spondylosis was investigated, and an inverse relationship between decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and spondylosis was reported.

Purpose:

This study aims to examine the relationship between vertebral fractures, spondylosis, and BMD in patients who received surgery for vertebral fractures, by using scoring systems and considering other structural factors that might contribute to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

Materials and Methods:

The participants were 26 patients who had undergone kyphoplasty due to osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, and 23 patients who had been diagnosed with osteoporosis by clinical examination but had no fractures. Dorsal and lumbar spine radiographs were taken of all patients, and their bone mineral density was measured. Osteophyte development was assessed according to Nathan’s classification. The disc score was calculated based on the rate of decrease in disc height. The bone mineral density of all patients was measured in the lumbar and proximal femur regions using DEXA (Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry).

Results:

The number of vertebral fractures was only significantly related to the osteophyte scores (p<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the disc score and osteophyte score (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the vertebral t-scores of the fracture and non-fracture groups (p<0.05). The only parameter from the DEXA score which affected the vertebral fracture was the z-score of the intertrochanteric area (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

We are of the opinion that it is important to assess and interpret the hip BMD, clinical fracture risk factors, and bone quality components of these patients.

Keywords: Osteoporosis, kyphoplasty, osteophyte score, disc score, DEXA bone densitometry, osteoporotic spine fracture.