Early diagnosis of the vertebral compressed fracture in old patients / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To enhance understanding of the vertebral compressed fracture in old patients so as to reduce its misdiagnosis. Methods 30 aged patients with vertebral compressed fracture were treated from 1998 to 2004 in our department. Their clinic data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 males and 3 females, aged from 70 to 90 years (averaging 82.5 years). Results All the patients were diagnosed definitely. There were 2 cases of T11 fracture, 13 cases of T12 fracture, 11 cases of L1 fracture, 3cases of L2 fracture, and 1 case of L3 fracture. At first 1 case was overlooked, and segmental positioning was wrong in 3 cases but the mistakes were corrected later. Conclusion Meticulous review of the history and clinical manifestation in addition to supplemental imageological examination are essential to early diagnosis of the majority of vertebral compressed fractures. As for some difficult early diagnoses, fat suppression MRI and nuclide bone scanning are helpful.