Intervertebral disc disorganization is related to trabecular bone architecture in the lumbar spine

Cancellous bone morphometry was investigated in the sagittal plane of lumbar vertebrae using histoquantitation. The aim of this study was to identify variations in cancellous bone architecture at increasing states of intervertebral disc (IVD) disorganization after age adjustment and to investigate regional variations within the whole vertebral body. Measurements were taken of the ratio of bone volume (BV) to total volume (TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), and trabecular number (Tb.N). Lumbar spines (T12-L5) of 19 men and 8 women were removed at autopsy from an adult sample with no clinical history of bone-related disease or histologically identifiable bone disease. It was found that degeneration of the IVD becomes more common with increasing age. After age-adjustment, significant increases in the proportion of BV/TV were observed in the presence of advancing IVD disorganization. Significant architectural changes were observed in the anterior regions of the vertebral body with increases in Tb.Th and Tb.N and decreases in Tb.Sp. Minimal alterations were found at posterior regions. Bone loss was observed in central regions (most distant from the cortex) as IVD disorganization increased through reduction in both Tb.N and Tb.Th. The BV/TV increase in anterior areas of the centrum may be a response to a redistribution of load to the vertebral body periphery as a result of IVD disorganization. It appears that trabecular morphology is related to the condition of the associated IVD, rather than being the sole consequence of a loss of BV/TV with age. This relationship could influence the occurrence of vertebral body crush fracture.