Vertebral morphometry in women aged 50-81 years

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Orthopedics
• Radiology

Background:

• Age-related changes in vertebral morphology are crucial for understanding spinal health.
• Vertebral shape indices (VSI) are used to assess spinal deformities and bone health.
• Previous studies have not fully characterized age-related vertebral dimension and shape variations across different spinal levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate age-related changes in vertebral dimensions and VSI in the thoracic and lumbar spine (T4-L4).
• To establish age- and level-specific reference ranges for VSI.
• To evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis indicators based on vertebral shape in older women.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of vertebral dimensions and VSI in 926 females aged 50-81 years.
• Examination of spinal levels T4-L4.
• Assessment of vertebral shape using parameters like wedging and concavity.

Main Results:

• A consistent increase in inferior antero-posterior vertebral dimension with advancing age was observed.
• Wedging and concavity showed age-related increases, though not significant at all levels.
• VSI values varied significantly by vertebral level and age group, necessitating level- and age-specific reference ranges.
• The prevalence of osteoporosis indicators (skewness, >3 SD from mean) was lower than reported in North American studies, with increasing skewness observed in older age groups.

Conclusions:

• Age-related changes in vertebral dimensions and VSI are significant and vary by spinal level.
• Established VSI reference ranges must account for age and vertebral level for accurate osteoporosis assessment.
• The findings suggest potential implications for load-bearing capacity and bone density assessment in aging populations.