Value of MRI in the diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Methods A total of 150 patients with vertebral compression fractures treated in Yuncheng Central Hospital from February 2015 to April 2017 were selected. The MRI findings of the 150 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results There were 180 vertebral compression fractures in 150 patients. MRI diagnosis showed 80 vertebral metastases fractures and 100 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, while X-ray plain films showed 78 vertebral metastases fractures and 102 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, and there was no significant difference in the results of the two methods(P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences in the MRI signs, such as lesions distribution, morphological changes, signal changes, vertebral attachments involvement, paravertebral masses, spinal canal compression, involvement of adjacent intervertebral discs and adjacent vertebral signal, between vertebral metastases fractures and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (P 0.05). The detection rates of fracture line, accessory fracture and bone contusion by MRI were significantly higher than those by X-ray plain films (P<0.05). At initial visit, 100 cases of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures showed T1 weighted image low signal and T2 weighted image high signal; 3 months after injury, some patients with recovered vertebral body showed T1 and T2 weighted image equal signals; 6 months after operation, vertebral body of most patients showed equal signal changes; 12 months after operation, the vertebral body signals of all patients returned to normal, and the difference of MRI results at different stages after fracture was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions MRI can clearly determine the types of vertebral compression fractures, and it has important value in judging the prognosis of patients. Key words: Magnetic resonance imaging; Osteoporosis; Vertebral compression fractures; Diagnosis