Association between vertebral fracture and increased mortality in osteoporotic patients.

Determinants of mortality were studied in a prospective study of 677 women and men with primary or secondary osteoporosis. Prevalent vertebral fractures were associated with increased mortality, but other known predictors of mortality explain a significant proportion of the excess risk. INTRODUCTION: In population studies, prevalent vertebral fractures are associated with increased mortality. It is unknown whether this excess mortality is related to low bone mineral density or its determinants or whether there is an additional component associated with fracture itself. METHODS: We studied 677 women and men with osteoporosis, 28-88 years old, of whom 352 had morphometrically determined vertebral fracture, to examine the risk and causes of mortality in patients with osteoporosis (defined densitometrically as a spine bone mineral density T-score < -2.5 and -3.0 for women and men, respectively, and/or one or more prevalent vertebral fractures without a history of significant trauma). The participants had enrolled in a double-blind placebo-controlled study in osteoporosis and were comprised of 483 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, 110 women with secondary osteoporosis, and 84 men with osteoporosis of any cause. Demographics, medical history, and other measures of skeletal and nonskeletal health status were assessed at entry. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 37 (5.5%) participants died, with 31 of these deaths occurring in those with prevalent vertebral fractures. Compared with participants who did not have a prevalent vertebral fracture, those with one or more fractures had a 4.4-fold higher (95% CI, 1.85, 10.6) mortality rate. After adjustment for predictors for poor health--including number of medications, number of diseases, use of oral corticosteroids, alcohol intake, serum albumin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), renal function, height, weight, gender, and age--the point estimate of risk remained elevated but was no longer statistically significant (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 0.93, 6.23). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalent vertebral fractures in osteoporotic patients are associated with increased mortality. Other known predictors of mortality can explain a significant proportion of the excess risk.     

Transverse vertebral fracture in osteoporotic aged patients with ankylosing spinal hyperostosis

Object  

The object of this case series was to report the unstable transverse spinal fracture in osteoporotic ankylosing spinal hyperostosis.     

Paraspinal muscle control in people with osteoporotic vertebral fracture

The high risk of sustaining subsequent vertebral fractures after an initial fracture cannot be explained solely by low bone mass. Extra-osseous factors, such as neuromuscular characteristics may help to explain this clinical dilemma. Elderly women with (n = 11) and without (n = 14) osteoporotic vertebral fractures performed rapid shoulder flexion to perturb the trunk while standing on a flat and short base. Neuromuscular postural responses of the paraspinal muscles at T6 and T12, and deep lumbar multifidus at L4 were recorded using intramuscular electromyography (EMG). Both groups demonstrated bursts of EMG that were initiated either before or shortly after the onset of shoulder flexion (P < 0.05). Paraspinal and multifidus onset occurred earlier in the non-fracture group (50–0 ms before deltoid onset) compared to the fracture group (25 ms before and 25 ms after deltoid onset) in the flat base condition. In the short base condition, EMG amplitude increased significantly above baseline earlier in the non-fracture group (75–25 ms before deltoid onset) compared to the fracture group (25–0 ms before deltoid onset) at T6 and T12; yet multifidus EMG increased above baseline earlier in the fracture group (50–25 ms before deltoid) compared to the non-fracture group (25–0 ms before deltoid). Time to reach maximum amplitude was shorter in the fracture group. Hypothetically, the longer time to initiate a postural response and shorter time to reach maximum amplitude in the fracture group may indicate a neuromuscular contribution towards subsequent fracture aetiology. This response could also be an adaptive characteristic of the central nervous system to minimise vertebral loading time.     

Reduced vertebral bone density in hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis.

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and single-photon absorptiometry were used to determine bone density at the lumbar spine and radial shaft in 62 patients with absorptive hypercalciuria, 27 patients with fasting hypercalciuria, and 31 nonhypercalciuric stone formers. Lumbar bone density was significantly lower in patients with absorptive (-10%) as well as in those with fasting hypercalciuria (-12%), with 74 and 92% of patients displaying values below the normal mean, whereas only 48% of the nonhypercalciuric stone formers had bone density values below the normal mean. In contrast, radial bone density was similar in all three groups of renal stone formers investigated. The comparison of urinary chemistry in patients with absorptive hypercalciuria and low normal bone density compared to those with high normal bone density showed a significantly increased 24 h urinary calcium excretion on random diet and a trend toward a higher 24 h urinary uric acid excretion and a higher body mass index in patients with low normal bone density. Moreover, among the patients with absorptive hypercalciuria we found a statistically significant correlation between the spinal bone density and the 24 h sodium and sulfate excretion and the urinary pH. These results gave evidence for an additional role of environmental factors (sodium and animal proteins) in the pathogenesis of bone loss in absorptive hypercalciuria. In conclusion, our data suggest an osteopenia of trabecular-rich bone tissues in patients with fasting and absorptive hypercalciurias.     

X-ray microanalysis of fluoride distribution in microfracture calluses in cancellous iliac bone from osteoporotic patients treated with fluoride and untreated.

Fluoride is able to augment cancellous bone mass in vertebral osteoporosis but is responsible for osteoarticular side effects in which microfractures are thought to be involved. During healing of these microfractures, a callus is formed all around the cancellous fracture line. Our hypothesis is that in fluoride-treated osteoporotic patients, calluses are bone sites where fluoride is focally deposited at a high concentration, and this could induce a local defect of calcification with a poor healing of microfractures. Our aim was to validate this hypothesis on several calluses following microfractures in undecalcified iliac cancellous bone from six women with osteoporosis (four fluoride treated and two untreated). Histologically normal iliac cancellous bone tissue, taken from a subject having neither fluoride treatment nor microfracture, was also examined. Selected areas, including new woven bone (calluses) and old lamellar bone, were carbon-coated and analyzed using an electron microprobe. Fluoride K alpha and calcium K alpha radiations were detected with wavelength and energy-dispersive spectrometers, respectively. In old lamellar bone at a distance from microfractures, the fluoride level was similar in normal and untreated osteoporotic patients but was slightly increased in treated osteoporotic patients. In untreated osteoporotic patients, the fluoride level was slightly higher (about 1.2 times) at the site of microfractures (lamellar and woven bone) than in lamellar bone far from such fractures, but fluoride was homogeneously distributed in lamellar and woven bone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Relationships between osteocyte density and bone formation rate in human cancellous bone

Iliac cancellous osteocyte density decreases with age in deep bone but not in superficial bone, most likely because of remodeling. It has been suggested that osteocytes can inhibit bone remodeling. Accordingly, we examined the relationship between osteocyte density and bone formation rate in 92 healthy women. In superficial bone (<25 μm from the surface), we found a weak but significant (p < 0.03) inverse correlation between BFR/BS and Ot. N/B.Ar that was unaffected by menopause and independent of age. A weaker positive relationship with empty lacunar density improved significance. The data appear to suggest a negative feedback loop, but osteocytes explain only 10% of the variance in BFR/BS, and 97% of the variance in osteocyte density is explained by total lacunar density. This measure of initial osteocyte density during bone formation has a high coefficient of variation (20%) indicating large individual differences. We conclude that: (1) our data support the proposal that osteocytes can inhibit bone remodeling; (2) osteocyte density in superficial bone depends mainly on initial osteocyte density during bone formation and is maintained but not regulated by bone remodeling; and (3) the inverse relationship between BFR/BS and osteocyte density may reflect the homeostatic need to maintain calcium exchangeability in the lining cell–osteocyte syncytium.     

经皮椎体成形术治疗不同程度骨质疏松椎体压缩性骨折的疗效分析

目的 探讨经皮椎体成形术(PVP)治疗不同程度OVCF的疗效. 方法 回顾性分析2004年1月至2010年10月应用PVP治疗的208例OVCF患者的临床资料,男72例,女136例;年龄70～96岁,平均77.8岁;共242个椎体,其中胸椎134个,腰椎108个.椎体压缩分度的判定及分度方法根据X线片和CT检查选用Genant半定量目测法,椎体压缩骨折Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度的标准分别为椎体压缩比＜25％、25％ ～ 50％、＞50％.术后测量椎体压缩比,观察脊柱稳定性、疼痛缓解及骨水泥渗漏等相关并发症. 结果 208例患者术后获平均30.5个月(6～84个月)随访,骨水泥注射量平均为胸椎(2.6±0.6)mL,腰椎(4.8±0.4) mL.Ⅰ度压缩比椎体手术前、后压缩比和cobb角比较差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).Ⅱ、Ⅲ度压缩比椎体手术前、后压缩比和cobb角比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).Ⅰ～Ⅲ度压缩比椎体之间疼痛缓解程度差异均无统计学意义(x2=0.955,P＞ 0.05).Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度压缩比椎体骨水泥渗漏率分别为3.2％ (1/31)、10.3％ (15/145)、25.8％ (17/66),但所有患者均未引起临床症状.Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ度压缩比椎体的并发症发生率分别为6.5％ (2/31)、6.9％ (10/145)、22.7％(15/66).结论 PVP在治疗OVCF时,压缩程度不同与患者疼痛缓解无必然关系.但随着椎体压缩程度的增加,术后椎体压缩比及cobb角的恢复也较差,建议PVP应早期治疗OVCF,避免椎体进一步压缩.     

老年骨质疏松性脊柱骨折治疗进展

老年骨质疏松性脊柱骨折保守治疗以卧平板床、口服抗骨质疏松药物、功能锻炼为主。椎弓根螺钉对骨质疏松椎体把持力不足、患者手术耐受差,使得传统螺钉内固定手术受到一定限制。研究提示,介入治疗之椎体成形术可减轻椎体骨折相关疼痛,恢复椎体高度等,但不必过多追求恢复椎体高度,保证安全更重要,骨水泥注入量的控制和评价也存在广泛争议。经皮球囊椎体后凸成形术(PKP)较之经皮椎体成形术(PVP)能更好地恢复椎体高度并减少骨水泥渗漏,膨胀式椎体成形术(Sky)较优于PVP、PKP。但有学者报道椎体成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折疼痛并不比安慰剂有效。     

骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折研究进展

随着社会人口老龄化,骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折(OVCF)患者越来越多。结合影像学检查和查体可明确诊断OVCF。OVCF保守治疗联合早期镇痛可使患者尽早进行主动康复锻炼;开放性手术虽然疗效确切,但手术创伤大,对老年患者身体状况要求高;微创手术能有效强化椎体,缓解疼痛,稳定责任椎体,防止责任椎体进一步压缩致后凸畸形加重,同时能使患者早期下床活动以避免卧床相关并发症,提高患者生活质量,但存在邻近椎体再骨折、骨水泥渗漏、肺栓塞、骨水泥中毒反应等风险。该文就近年来OVCF研究进展作一综述。     

阿仑膦酸钠预防骨质疏松性脊柱骨折患者再次骨折的临床研究

目的观察阿仑膦酸钠预防骨质疏松性脊柱骨折患者再次骨折的作用。方法将80例骨质疏松性脊柱骨折患者随机分为治疗组及对照组,每组40例。2组均应用碳酸钙D3片及阿法骨化醇软胶囊做为基础用药,治疗组加用阿仑膦酸钠。分别于治疗开始前及治疗2年后．检测2组患者腰椎及左侧髋部双能X线骨密度（BMD）,并测定血清I型胶原氨基末端肽（NTX）和骨钙素（OC）浓度,随访再次骨折的发生率。结果阿仑膦酸钠治疗组治疗2年,腰椎及左侧髋部BMD均不同程度提高,血清NTX及OC则不同程度降低,与治疗前相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。对照组BMD均不同程度下降,血清NTX及OC则不同程度升高,但无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。两组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。2年治疗中,治疗组发生2例再次骨折事件,对照组发生8例再次骨折事件,两组相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论阿仑膦酸钠能够有效降低骨转换率、增加BMD,预防骨质疏松性脊柱骨折患者再次骨折的发生。     

椎体强化术后邻近椎体再骨折的治疗

[目的]探讨椎体强化术后邻近椎体再骨折行椎体成形术的治疗方案。[方法]2008年11月~2014年6月采用经皮椎体成形术、抗骨质疏松及康复功能锻炼治疗经皮椎体强化术术后椎体再骨折22例。记录并分析伤椎高度压缩率、伤椎后凸Cobb角、疼痛视觉模拟评分(visual analogue scale,VAS)、Oswestry功能障碍指数(oswestry disability index,ODI)评价及再骨折发生率。[结果]术后随访15~49个月,平均(17.3±6.2)个月。所有患者骨水泥注射过程顺利。术后CT扫描显示5例出现骨水泥渗漏,渗漏发生率为22.73%,其中椎管内渗漏1例,椎间隙渗漏2例,椎间盘渗漏1例,针道渗漏1例。均无明显症状,未行特殊处理。1例邻近椎体骨折,发生率为4.55%。患者术后伤椎高度压缩率、伤椎后凸Cobb角、VAS及ODI评价较术前明显改善,差异具有统计学意义(P0.01)。[结论]经皮椎体成形术、抗骨质疏松及康复功能锻炼是治疗椎体强化术后邻近椎体再骨折的有效方法,止痛效果好,并且能够改善椎体形态,减少邻近椎体再骨折的发生率。     

椎体成形术治疗老年骨质疏松脊柱压缩骨折

目的探讨椎体成形术治疗老年骨质疏松脊柱压缩骨折的疗效和安全性.方法在C臂X线机监测下对20例36个椎体行椎体成形术(均为后壁完整疼痛剧烈老年骨质疏松脊柱压缩骨折).观察术后症状改善情况,分析并发症.结果20例椎体成形术术后均未出现肺栓塞、神经损伤等并发症,CT检查无椎管内或椎间孔渗漏.术后随访5～18个月,17例疼痛消失,2例明显减轻,1例缓解.结论椎体成形术是治疗老年骨质疏松脊柱压缩骨折安全有效的方法.     

经皮椎体后凸成形术治疗老年新鲜骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折

目的探讨经皮椎体后凸成形术(PKP)治疗老年新鲜骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折(OVCF)的临床疗效。方法采用PKP治疗86例老年新鲜OVCF患者,观察手术一般情况、术后并发症情况及疗效。结果患者均获得随访,时间1~3年。VAS评分、ODI、椎体后凸Cobb角、椎体前缘及中部高度变化等5项指标术后2 d及末次随访均较术前显著改善,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01,P0.05)。未出现骨水泥椎管内渗漏、神经或神经根损伤、肺栓塞等严重并发症。结论 PKP治疗老年新鲜OVCF疗效确切,手术出血量少,并发症少,术后患者症状和体征改善显著。     

骨质疏松性椎体骨折外科治疗进展

骨质疏松性椎体骨折是临床治疗的难点。骨质疏松性椎体骨折的治疗目的是缓解疼痛,改善生活质量;增加骨强度,避免椎体继续压缩;矫形,恢复椎体高度。传统的保守疗法效果往往不甚理想。外科微创治疗技术如经皮椎体成形术(PVP)、经皮球囊扩张椎体成形术(PKP)和经皮自体骨移植(PBG)等的应用,已取得较好疗效。该文就PVP、PKP和PBG近期相关研究进展作一简要综述。     

骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的微创治疗

骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折常导致患者疼痛、活动受限，特别是随着老龄人群的增加，其发病率逐渐升高。传统采用保守治疗或者手术治疗效果不理想。近年采用椎体成形术(PVP)或后凸成形术(PKP)微创治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折，经皮穿刺椎体内注入骨水泥或先用球囊撑开压缩的椎体后再注入骨水泥进行椎体强化，可以达到稳定骨折、恢复椎体力学强度和缓解疼痛的目的=本文就有关这种微创治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的最新进展加以综述。     

Predicting vertebral fracture incidence from prevalent fractures and bone density among non-black,osteoporotic women

We evaluated the ability of bone density and vertebral fractures at baseline to predict vertebral fracture incidence in a cohort of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The study population was 380 postmenopausal women (mean age 65 years) treated for osteoporosis in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of the bisphosphonate etidronate at seven geographic centers in the United States. Baseline measurements of bone mineral density were obtained in 1986 by quantitative computed tomography at the spine and dual-photon absorptiometry at the lumbar spine and hip. Vertebral fractures were documented on serial spine radiographs. Proportional hazards models were used to evaluate the ability to predict the risk of subsequent fractures during an average of 2.9 years of follow-up. Presence of one or two fractures increased the rate of new vertebral fractures 7.4-fold (95% confidence interval = 1.0 to 55.9). Additional fractures at baseline further increased the fracture rate. A decrease of 2 standard deviations in spinal bone density by absorptiometry was associated with a 5.8-fold increase in fracture rate (95% confidence interval = 2.9 to 11.6). The lowest and highest quintiles of bone density had absolute fracture rates of 120 and 6 cases per 1000 patient-years, respectively. In general, the simultaneous use of two predictors (bone density and prevalent fractures or two bone density measurements) improved fracture prediction, compared with the use of a single predictor. We conclude that both bone density and prevalent vertebral fractures are strong, complementary predictors of vertebral fracture risk. The results suggest that physicians can use bone density and prevalent vertebral fractures, individually or in combination, as risk factors to identify patients at greatest risk of new fractures.     

Anisotropy of osteoporotic cancellous bone.

To investigate the mechanism underlying femoral neck fracture, it is necessary to determine the various mechanical properties, including the bone strength, of the primary compressive group. We investigated the mechanical anisotrophy of the primary compressive group by comparing differences in its mechanical properties, depending on the loading direction. Twenty-three femoral heads of 20 female and 3 male patients with femoral neck fracture were studied. The mean age of these patients was 79.9 years (range, 63-98 years). A total of 82 cubic specimens (6.5 mm in length) were obtained (one to six specimens from each femoral head). The specimens obtained from each femoral head were randomly assigned into two groups: parallel and perpendicular. The parallel group included 43 specimens, and the perpendicular group included 39 specimens. A compressive load was applied either parallel or perpendicular to the primary compressive group of the specimens in each respective group. Three parameters were obtained: compressive stiffness, maximum stress, and maximum energy. We calculated the regression of three parameters against the square of the apparent dry density. These mechanical properties were compared between the two groups by testing the difference of the slopes in two regression lines by using analyses of covariance, in which two main effects of group (nominal value) and the square of the apparent dry density (continuous value) and an interaction between two factors were modeled. Three parameters were significantly correlated with the square of the apparent dry density in both groups. In all three measurements, the difference of the slopes between two regression lines was significantly different. This means that all three measurements decreased in the parallel group more than in the perpendicular one, as apparent dry density decreased. We consider that the bone strength of the proximal femur decreases more when stress is applied in the longitudinal direction (as in walking) and less when stress is applied in the transverse direction (as in a fall) when bone density decreases.     

Conservative management of patients with an osteoporotic vertebral fracture: a review of the literature

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are an increasing public health problem. Recently, randomised controlled trials on the use of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty in the treatment of these fractures have been published, but no definitive conclusions have been reached on the role of these interventions. The major problem encountered when trying to perform a meta-analysis of the available studies for the use of cementoplasty in patients with a VCF is that conservative management has not been standardised. Forms of conservative treatment commonly used in these patients include bed rest, analgesic medication, physiotherapy and bracing. In this review, we report the best evidence available on the conservative care of patients with osteoporotic VCFs and associated back pain, focusing on the role of the most commonly used spinal orthoses. Although orthoses are used for the management of these patients, to date, there has been only one randomised controlled trial published evaluating their value. Until the best conservative management for patients with VCFs is defined and standardised, no conclusions can be drawn on the superiority or otherwise of cementoplasty techniques over conservative management.     

三种手术方式治疗陈旧性骨质疏松性脊柱骨折合并后凸畸形

[目的]评价不同截骨方式治疗陈旧性骨质疏松性脊柱骨折合并后凸畸形的临床效果,并探讨其适应证。[方法]回顾性分析本院2008年12月~2014年7月采用不同截骨方式治疗的61例骨质疏松性脊柱压缩性骨折合并后凸畸形患者,其中15例采用SPO截骨(Smith-Perterson osteotomy),32例单节段经椎弓根蛋壳截骨(pedicle subtration osteotomy,PSO),14例采用经前柱撑开结构性植骨后柱加压闭合截骨。[结果]所有患者均获随访,时间6~65个月。截骨愈合时间3~5个月,平均3.6个月。所有患者均顺利进行手术。SPO截骨组手术时间120~190min,平均(140.5±14.5)min,术中出血量400~1 500 ml,平均(650.3±50.3)ml,术前Cobb角20°~45°,平均(26.4±9.6)°,术后恢复至6°~15°,平均(8±2.4)°,末次随访时(9±2.3)°。PSO组:手术时间163~247min,平均(206.7±19.5)min,术中出血量580~1 800 ml,平均(947.4±48.3)ml。术前Cobb角40°~50°,平均(46.2±11.2)°,术后恢复至4°~9°,平均(6.7±1.6)°,末次随访时(7±3.1)°。前柱撑开后柱加压闭合组:手术时间198~261 min,平均(236.4±20.1)min,术中出血量809~2 216 ml,平均1 350 ml,术前Cobb角52°~75°,平均(63.4±12.4)°,术后恢复至6°~16°,平均(10.0±2.1)°,末次随访时(12±3.4)°。三组患者术后及末次随访VAS评分、ODI指数较术前均有明显改善(P0.05)。[结论]截骨融合内固定术是治疗骨质疏松性压缩性骨折伴后凸畸形的有效方法,截骨方式的选择应根据患者病情综合考虑,制定个体化治疗方案是收到良好效果的关键。     

Changes in osteocyte density correspond with changes in osteoblast and osteoclast activity in an osteoporotic sheep model

Summary  

Histomorphometric assessment of trabecular bone in osteoporotic sheep showed that bone volume, osteoid surface area, bone formation rate, and osteocyte density were reduced. In contrast, eroded surface area and empty lacunae density were increased. Changes in osteocyte density correlated with changes in osteoblast and osteoclast activity.