Clinical importance of posterior vertebral height loss on plain radiography when conservatively treating osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

Purpose: To predict spinal canal compromise, the assessment of plain radiography with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid the detection of vertebral body collapse and prevent the development of neurological deficits.

Methods: Patients who suffered osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) between January 2012 and December 2014 underwent consecutive radiological assessments, including measurements of anterior height loss (AHL), posterior height loss (PHL), and the kyphotic angle (KA). The fracture morphology was classified by AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classification system.