Lumboskeletal muscles contributing to the onset of osteoporotic spinal fractures.
A recent study conducted at the Department of Radiology of Toulouse University Hospital in France has provided insight into the relationship between muscle health and osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The research, which spanned from March 2003 to December 2019, involved computerized tomography (CT) data of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture and those without, aiming to determine if a deficit in paravertebral (PVM) and psoas (PM) muscles is associated with a higher prevalence of vertebral fractures in osteoporotic patients.
The study, published in a reputable medical journal, included 117 patients in each group (fracture and control). The analysis adjusted muscle atrophy based on cross-sectional area and assessed fatty infiltration on a 3-level scale and the average muscle density in Hounsfield units (HU).
The results showed that the fracture group had a higher grade of fatty infiltration in the PM and PVM muscles than the control group. Furthermore, the fracture group had a lower average muscle density in the PM and PVM muscles and a lower PVM cross-sectional area (CSA) than the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the PM CSA between the two groups.
Osteoporosis, a condition that affects about 200 million women worldwide, particularly postmenopausal women, with 50% of women over 50 at risk for an osteoporotic fracture, is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to complications like vertebral fractures. These fractures cause functional disability, low back pain, immobilization, and kyphosis.
The study used non-injected CT, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for analysis. The research concluded that there is an association between a lack of axial musculature and the occurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
Previous studies have also indicated a significant correlation between paravertebral and psoas muscle deficits and the occurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. This correlation can be attributed to the interconnected nature of muscle and bone health in the musculoskeletal system. Declining muscle function can lead to bone loss, suggesting that muscle deficits may contribute to osteoporotic fractures.
Moreover, both sarcopenia (muscle loss) and osteoporosis often co-occur and are related to common risk factors, including obesity. Sarcopenia is more prevalent in individuals experiencing osteoporotic fractures, further highlighting the correlation between muscle deficits and bone health.
Preventive strengthening exercises could be proposed to osteoporotic patients to counteract these muscle deficits and potentially reduce the risk of vertebral fractures. The main risk factor for osteoporotic vertebral fractures remains low bone mineral density (BMD) at peripheral and central sites. However, this study underscores the importance of considering muscle health in the management and prevention of osteoporotic vertebral fractures.
References: [1] [Cited Study] [2] [Cited Study] [3] [Cited Study] [4] [Cited Study] [5] [Cited Study]
- The study at Toulouse University Hospital unearths the relationship between osteoporotic vertebral fractures and muscle health through the use of musculoskeletal imaging, including computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- The research has revealed a higher grade of fatty infiltration in the paravertebral (PVM) and psoas (PM) muscles and a lower average muscle density in these regions among patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures, hinting at an association with the occurrence of such fractures.
- With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and its associated medical-conditions like vertebral fractures, health-and-wellness initiatives that incorporate strengthening exercises could potentially help reduce the risk by counteracting musculoskeletal deficits.
