Vertebral shape, trabecular pattern, and spinal bone mineral density in osteoporosis

Abstract

Vertebral morphometry and trabecular pattern were correlated to the bone mineral density (BMD) of the corresponding vertebra in 82 patients with osteoporosis. With lateral roentgenograms of the lumbar spine, the anterior, middle, and posterior vertebral heights of L2, L3, and L4 were measured, and the wedge index, concavity index, lumbar spine score, and relative central compression were calculated. The trabecular pattern was graded from normal to a disappearance of trabeculae. The BMD of the corresponding vertebrae was measured by dual photon absorptiometry. There were positive correlations between the BMD and the following measurements of biconcavity: the middle height (r=0.182, p=0.0086), concavity index (r=0.202, p=0.0034), lumbar spine score (r=0.147, p=0.0343), and relative central compression (r=0.179, p=0.0099). The trabecular pattern showed a negative correlation with the BMD (r=−0.141, p=0.0428). Although these correlations were statistically significant, the correlation coefficients and the coefficients of determination were small. Therefore, we may be able to use the degree of biconcavity and the trabecular pattern to differentiate severe osteoporosis from mild one, but these parameters are of limited value in the precise assessment of bone loss.