Correlation analysis of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and spinal sagittal imbalance.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and spinal sagittal imbalance, in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment.

Methods: From September 2013 to March 2015, 60 elderly patients with old osteoporotic vertebral compression factures (observation group) and 60 healthy elderly people (control group) were studied. Whole-spine anteroposterior and lateral view X‑ray photographs were taken from all participants, the number and location of fractured vertebrae were recorded, and sagittal parameters in both groups were compared. The observation group was divided into three subgroups according to the number of fractured vertebrae. The C7/sacrofemoral distance (SFD) ratio in the three subgroups was compared, and the correlation between the number of fractured vertebrae and the C7/SFD ratio was analyzed.

Results: The thoracic kyphotic angle in patients in the observation group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05), the lumbar lordotic angle in patients in the observation group was lower than in the control group (P < 0.05), the absolute value of the T1 spinopelvic inclination angle in patients in the observation group was lower than in the control group (P < 0.05), and the C7/SFD ratio of patients in the observation group was higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). C7/SFD ratios of the subgroups differed from each other, and the number of fractured vertebrae and C7/SFD ratio were positively correlated.

Conclusion: Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures can change local spinal sagittal alignment, multiple vertebral compression fractures can cause spinal sagittal imbalance, and the number of fractured vertebrae and the degree of forward movement of the spine were positively correlated.