Retrospective Review of 181 Patients with Pathologic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Abstract

Background: Compression fractures are often associated with lower energy trauma and may occur in the setting of abnormal bone health associated with genetic disorders and endocrine disorders, neoplastic disease, infection, and inflammatory disorders. There is no significant series in the literature describing the prevalence or etiology of pathologic pediatric compression fractures.Methods: IRB-approved retrospective study was performed at a tertiary children's hospital from 2012-2022. Patients <18 years old diagnosed with atraumatic vertebral compression fractures were included and reviewed for demographics, underlying diagnosis/comorbidity, presentation, mobility, deformities, imaging data, treatments, and outcomes.Results: 181 patients (54% Male) were included with mean age 14.17 years and follow-up of 20 months. A compression fracture was the presenting symptom of an underlying diagnosis in 32% of patients, and 21% of patients received an MRI to distinguish between metastatic disease and benign fractures. Primary osteoporosis was the cause in 15% and secondary osteoporosis was in 65% of patients; most commonly due to immunosuppressants (46%) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (10%). Primary lesions were the etiology in 20% of patients. There was a median of 3 fractures per patient, mostly of the midthoracic (82%) and thoracolumbar spine (51%). Radiographs revealed wedge fractures in 82%, biconcave fractures in 22%, and vertebra plana in 12%. Patients were managed with observation (46%), bracing (31%), bisphosphonates (31%), and fusions (4%). By last follow-up, there was a higher proportion of patients who developed scoliosis or became wheelchair-bound. Overall, there was a 16% mortality rate which was mostly associated with cancer.Conclusion: Overall, 32% of patients presented with a compression fracture as the presenting symptom of an underlying disease. Pathologic vertebral compression fractures in children frequently occurred due to immunosuppressants, ALL, and metastatic disease. The fractures were most often wedge morphology in the thoracolumbar and mid-thoracic regions of the spine. MRIs may be useful for distinguishing between benign fractures and malignancy.Levels of Evidence: Level IV Key Concepts•Pathologic Vertebral Compression Fractures occur commonly in children with primary or secondary osteoporosis or due to primary site lesions, such as metastases.•Patients often have multiple fractures about the thoracolumbar and mid-thoracic regions of the spine.•Wedge and biconcave fractures were the most common fracture type at presentation and indicated an underlying disease not previously known in one-third of patients.•MRI is useful for distinguishing between benign fractures and malignancy as the etiology of the fracture.