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Editorial
. 2021 Dec;32(12):2391-2395.
doi: 10.1007/s00198-021-06207-8. Epub 2021 Oct 21.

Where's the break? Critique of radiographic vertebral fracture diagnostic methods

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Editorial

Where's the break? Critique of radiographic vertebral fracture diagnostic methods

J C Prior et al. Osteoporos Int. 2021 Dec.
No abstract available

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
This diagram shows four vertebrae to illustrate the issues involved in differentiating Grade I morphometric “vertebral fractures” (assessed by the Genant Semiquantitative, GSQ method) from morphologic or structural vertebral fractures (by the modified Algorithm-Based Qualitative, ABQ method). (A) Grade 0, intact, normal-shaped vertebral body without a vertebral fracture; (B) Grade 0 morphologic fracture of the superior endplate (ABQ); (C) Grade 0 morphologic fracture of the anterior cortex (modified ABQ); (D) Grade 1 intact vertebral body with decreased anterior height that is a (GSQ) vertebral deformity. “a” = anterior and “p” = posterior (drawn by JCP and BCL with refinements by Dharani Kalidasan MSc)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
This diagram, reprinted from [7] with permission, contrasts the prevalent (baseline) anatomical/segmental distribution along the entire vertebral length, of Grade 1 and higher morphometric vertebral deformities and fractures versus similar grades of morphologic vertebral fractures. The morphometric assessment shows much more common prevalent fractures and a peak at T8 of Grade 1 vertebral deformities and a lesser one at T12. The morphologic method shows fewer baseline vertebral fractures of all grades with a Grade 1 maximum VF prevalence at L1
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
This bar graph contrasts the baseline sex/gender distribution of vertebral deformities and fractures in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study cohort of 828 individuals whose spine radiographs were systematically assessed at baseline and after 10 years using both morphometric (GSQ) and morphologic (mABQ) methods [7]. Morphometric methods showed a higher prevalence of VF and deformities as well as that vertebral deformities were more frequent in men than women. The morphologic assessment documented fewer prevalent VF and a more typical osteoporosis-related predominance in women. There were no sex/gender differences in incident VF and deformities by either assessment method (drawn by Dharani Kalidasan MSc)

Comment in

References

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