open access

Vol 69, No 3 (2010)
Original article
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-08-02
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Relationship between radiographic features and bone mineral density in elderly men

Ö. Karabulut, M.C. Tuncer, Z. Karabulut, A. Açlkgöz, E.S. Hatipoglu, Z. Akkus
Folia Morphol 2010;69(3):170-176.

open access

Vol 69, No 3 (2010)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2012-02-06
Published online: 2010-08-02

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)

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)
Get Citation

Keywords

osteophytes; lumbar vertebrae; disc degeneration; DXA; digital radiography

About this article
Title

Relationship between radiographic features and bone mineral density in elderly men

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 69, No 3 (2010)

Article type

Original article

Pages

170-176

Published online

2010-08-02

Page views

525

Article views/downloads

1750

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2010;69(3):170-176.

Keywords

osteophytes
lumbar vertebrae
disc degeneration
DXA
digital radiography

Authors

Ö. Karabulut
M.C. Tuncer
Z. Karabulut
A. Açlkgöz
E.S. Hatipoglu
Z. Akkus

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