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. 2019 May 8:2019:4021640.
doi: 10.1155/2019/4021640. eCollection 2019.

The Evaluation of Different Radiological Measurement Parameters of the Degree of Collapse of the Vertebral Body in Vertebral Compression Fractures

Wei-En Hsu  1 , Kuo-Chih Su  2   3 , Kun-Hui Chen  1 , Chien-Chou Pan  1   4 , Wen-Hsien Lu  1   5 , Cheng-Hung Lee  1   6
Affiliations

The Evaluation of Different Radiological Measurement Parameters of the Degree of Collapse of the Vertebral Body in Vertebral Compression Fractures

Wei-En Hsu et al. Appl Bionics Biomech. .

Abstract

For compression fracture, vertebral body height loss (VBHL) and kyphotic angle (KA) are two important imaging parameters for determining the prognosis and appropriate treatment. This study used previous measurement methods to assess the degree of VBHL and KA, compare and examine differences between various measurement methods, and examine the correlation between relevant measurement parameters and intravertebral cleft (IVC) in the vertebral body. The radiographic images (lateral view of the T-L spine) of 18 patients with a single-level vertebral compression fracture were reviewed. We measured 9 characteristic lengths and angles on plain radiographs, including anterior vertebral height (AVH) and AVH of the adjacent upper and lower levels, middle vertebral height (MVH) and MVH of the adjacent upper and lower levels, posterior vertebral height (PVH), and vertebral body width, and assessed 6 parameters, including vertebral compression ratio (VBCR), percentage of anterior height compression (PAHC), percentage of middle height compression (PMHC), kyphotic angle (KA), calculated kyphotic angle (CKA), and IVC. The results showed that VBCR is a simple and rapid method of VBHL assessment, but it may result in an underestimation of the degree of VBHL compared to PAHC. When PMHC < 40% or kyphotic angle > 15°, the probability of IVC occurring on the vertebral body was higher which means the higher risk of vertebral body instability. The results of this study could provide a reference for surgeons when using imaging modalities to assess the degree of vertebral body collapse.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) This study mainly measures the characteristic lengths on plain radiographs (AVH: anterior vertebral height; MVH: middle vertebral height; PVH: posterior vertebral height; W: vertebral body width). (b) Parameters examined in this study (VBCR, PAHC, PMHC, and CKA).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kyphotic angle measurements.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lateral plain radiograph of the thoracolumbar spine. The arrows point to the crescent-shaped shadow in the vertebral body, that is, the IVC.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The values of VBCRs and PAHC measured from 18 sets of radiographs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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