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Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
The acromegalic spine: fractures, deformities and spinopelvic balance
Bruno de Azevedo Oliveira1, Bruna Araujo2, Tainá Mafalda Dos Santos2
1Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Patologia, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
Introduction:
Axial skeleton arthropathy and osteoporotic vertebral fractures are common findings in acromegalic patients and can result in severe spinal deformity.
Objective:
To investigate the presence of spinal fractures and deformities, sagittal imbalances, and spinopelvic compensatory mechanisms in acromegalics.
Patients And Methods:
58 patients with acromegaly from a referral neuroendocrinology center were prospectively evaluated by panoramic spine radiographs to detect the presence of fractures and scoliosis, to measure thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sagittal vertical axis (SVA). Sagittal imbalance criteria were considered: thoracic kyphosis > 50°, PI-LL > 10°, PT > 20° and SVA > 5 cm. Their medical records were analyzed for clinical and laboratorial data.
Results:
The prevalence of fractures was 13.8%, predominantly in the thoracic spine, with mild and anterior wedge compressions. Scoliosis was present in 34.5% of the cases, all with degenerative lumbar curve apex. Thoracic kyphosis > 50º occurred in 36.8% of patients, PI-LL > 10° in 48.3%, PT > 20° in 41.4% and SVA > 5 cm in 12.1%.
Conclusion:
Increased number of vertebral fractures and high prevalence of spinal deformities related to sagittal imbalance were detected, indicating the importance of monitoring bone comorbidities in acromegaly, with radiological evaluation of the spine as part of the follow up.
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