The Impact of Bone Mineral Density on Bone Metabolism and the Fracture Healing Process in Elderly Chinese Patients With Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bone mineral density (BMD) on bone histomorphological parameters and bone turnover markers (BTMs) following osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and to determine the correlation between BMD and the percentage of middle height compression during the healing process.


METHODS
A total of 206 patients with OVCFs were included in this study. Bone biopsy specimens were acquired during surgery. Blood samples were obtained to determine the serum concentrations of BTMs. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to BMD.


RESULTS
The concentrations of N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP) in the T-score ≤ -2.5 group (50.92 ± 12.78 ng/ml) were significantly lower than those in the T-score > -2.5 group (68.75 ± 28.66 ng/ml, p = 0.025) 3-6 mo after fracture. Moreover, the volume of necrotic bone in the T-score ≤ -2.5 group (15.15 ± 5.44%) was higher than that (1.67 ± 0.79%, p < 0.001) in the T-score > -2.5 group during the same period. BMD was statistically correlated with cancellous bone content (RS = 0.761, p <0.001), PMHC (RS = 0.85, p < 0.001), fibrous tissue volume (RS = -0.376, p < 0.001), and necrotic bone content (RS = -0.487, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The healing process of OVCFs in the setting of low bone mass frequently occurs in the presence of decreased bone formation abilities, severe vertebral body height loss and a large amount of necrotic bone.
['Qi|Haoran|H|', 'Qi|Jun|J|', 'Gao|Junying|J|', 'Sun|Jianmin|J|', 'Wang|Guodong|G|']
D000368:Aged D015519:Bone Density D002681:China D017102:Fracture Healing D050815:Fractures, Compression D006801:Humans D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures D016103:Spinal Fractures
Bone mineral density Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures Bone turnover markers Percentage of middle height compression Histomorphometric analysis