Vol 69, No 3 (2010)
Original article
Published online: 2010-08-02
Relationship between radiographic features and bone mineral density in elderly men
Folia Morphol 2010;69(3):170-176.
Abstract
Lumbar disc degeneration is characterised radiologically by the presence of osteophytes,
endplate sclerosis, and disc space narrowing. Our study was designed
to assess anterior lumbar osteophytes, disc space narrowing, end plate sclerosis,
and bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar vertebrae and femoral neck of
elderly men. A total of 1000 men, aged between 71 and 90 years, were invited
to participate in the study. BMD was assessed at the spine and femoral neck
using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We examined the relationship
with the degree of lumbar spinal and femoral neck deformity by using the
Z-score. Lateral and anterioposterior spinal radiographs were evaluated for features
of lumbar disc degeneration. The observers consisted of a consultant physical
therapist, a radiologist, and anatomists who together studied the series of
radiographs. Anterior lumbar osteophytes (grade 0–3), end-plate sclerosis, and
disc space narrowing (grade 0–2) were evaluated. The Pearson correlation test
was used to determine the association between radiographic features, the lumbar
mineral density (LBMD), and femoral neck mineral density (FNBMD). In all,
90.6% of lumbar vertebral levels showed evidence of anterior osteophytes, 87.5%
showed evidence of end plate sclerosis, and 68.2% of disc space narrowing.
Additionally, there was a strong negative correlation in terms of age at the femoral
neck, though not at the spine. On the other hand, there was a significant
correlation between osteophyte grade and end plate sclerosis at the spine. In our
study, the radiographic features of lumbar disc degeneration, anterior osteophytes,
and end plate sclerosis were associated with an increase in BMD at the
spine.
(Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 3: 170-176)
(Folia Morphol 2010; 69, 3: 170-176)
Keywords: osteophyteslumbar vertebraedisc degenerationDXAdigital radiography