Associations between co­exposure to heavy metals and vertebral compression fracture, as well as femoral neck bone mineral density: A cross-sectional study from NHANES data.

OBJECTIVE: Accumulating evidence showed that exposure to heavy metals was harmful to human health. Little is known regarding the mixing effects of multiple metal exposures on vertebral compression fracture (VCF) and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD). This study aimed to explore the individual and joint effects of four heavy metals [manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg)] on VCF risk and femoral neck BMD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,007 eligible individuals with vertebral fractures from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2014. The outcome was the risk of VCF and femoral neck BMD. Weighted multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the individual effect of four heavy metals on the VCF risk, separately. Weighted multivariate linear regression was used to explore the individual effect of four heavy metals on the femoral neck BMD, separately. Adopted bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model and quantile-based g computation (qgcomp) to examine the joint effects of four heavy metals on the VCF risk and femoral neck BMD. RESULTS: Among the population, 57 individuals developed VCF. After adjusting covariates, we found no statistical differences regarding the individual effects of four heavy metals on the risk of VCF. BKMR model and qgcomp indicated that there were no statistical differences regarding the joint effects between four heavy metals on the VCF risk. In addition, we found that Cd was associated with femoral neck BMD, and an increase in the mixture of heavy metal exposures was associated with a decreased risk of femoral neck BMD. CONCLUSION: No significant correlation was observed between co-exposure to Mn, Pb, Cd and Hg and VCF risk. But co-exposure to Mn, Pb, Cd and Hg may be associated with femoral neck BMD.

Serum branched-chain amino acid levels are associated with fracture risk in Japanese women.

AIM: Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been shown to exert beneficial effects on muscle and bone metabolism; however, no studies to date have investigated whether BCAAs have beneficial effects on bone fractures. Herein, we aim to prospectively investigate the relationship between serum BCAA concentrations and the occurrence of vertebral fractures (VFs) in Japanese women. METHODS: During the observation period (7.5 ± 6.1 years), 188 of 983 participants experienced VF. Kaplan-Meier analyses were conducted to examine time-dependent variations in the vertebral compression fracture occurrence rate. Patients were stratified into quartiles based on serum BCAA concentration for this analysis. RESULTS: The analysis results indicated that the group with the lowest BCAA level developed VFs significantly earlier and with a higher frequency than the other groups (P < 0.001). A Cox proportional hazards model showed that BCAA concentration was a significant risk factor for incident fracture, even after adjusting for possible confounding factors. A series of multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors related to serum BCAA concentration, with the results identifying levels of glycated hemoglobin (P < 0.001), adiponectin (P < 0.001), and NOx (P = 0.011) as significant factors associated with serum BCAA. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the present study revealed that a lower serum BCAA level was an independent risk factor for incident VF in postmenopausal women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 603-608.

Achieving osteoporosis treat-to-target goals with teriparatide or alendronate: sub-analysis of Japanese Osteoporosis Intervention Trial-05 (JOINT-05).

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether bone mineral density (BMD) ≥ -2.5 SD could be used as the treat-to-target (T2T) goal when treating osteoporosis with teriparatide (TPTD) and alendronate (ALN), and to investigate the relationship with incident vertebral fracture by re-analyzing data from a randomized, controlled trial (JOINT-05) involving postmenopausal Japanese women at high fracture risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants received sequential therapy with once-weekly TPTD for 72 weeks, followed by ALN for 48 weeks (TPTD-ALN group) or ALN monotherapy for 120 weeks (ALN group). BMDs were measured at the lumbar spine (L2-4), total hip, and femoral neck at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 120 weeks by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The T2T goal was BMD ≥ -2.5 SD, and the endpoint was the proportion of participants with baseline BMD < -2.5 SD in three measurement sites achieving BMD ≥ -2.5 SD. RESULTS: A total of 559 participants were selected. BMD ≥ -2.5 SD at 120 weeks in the L2-4, total hip, and femoral neck sites was achieved in 20.5%, 23.1%, and 5.9%, respectively, in the TPTD-ALN group and 22.2%, 11.7%, and 7.3%, respectively, in the ALN group. Incident vertebral fractures occurred in areas of both lower and high BMD. CONCLUSION: During the 1.5-year treatment period, more than 20% of participants achieved BMD ≥ -2.5 SD as a T2T goal at L2-4. Since the achievement level differed depending on the BMD measurement site, the appropriate site should be selected according to the baseline BMD level.

Prediction of Subsequent Vertebral Fracture After Acute Osteoporotic Fractures from Clinical and Paraspinal Muscle Features.

To construct a nomogram based on clinical factors and paraspinal muscle features to predict vertebral fractures occurring after acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). We retrospectively enrolled 307 patients with acute OVCF between January 2013 and August 2022, and performed magnetic resonance imaging of the L3/4 and L4/5 intervertebral discs (IVDs) to estimate the cross-sectional area (CSA) and degree of fatty infiltration (FI) of the paraspinal muscles. We also collected clinical and radiographic data. We used univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to identify factors that should be included in the predictive nomogram. Post-OVCF vertebral fracture occurred within 3, 12, and 24 months in 33, 69, and 98 out of the 307 patients (10.8%, 22.5%, and 31.9%, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that this event was associated with percutaneous vertebroplasty treatment, higher FI at the L3/4 IVD levels of the psoas muscle, and lower relative CSA of functional muscle at the L4/5 IVD levels of the multifidus muscle. Area under the curve values for subsequent vertebral fracture at 3, 12, and 24 months were 0.711, 0.724, and 0.737, respectively, indicating remarkable accuracy of the nomogram. We developed a model for predicting post-OVCF vertebral fracture from diagnostic information about prescribed treatment, FI at the L3/4 IVD levels of the psoas muscle, and relative CSA of functional muscle at the L4/5 IVD levels of the multifidus muscle. This model could facilitate personalized predictions and preventive strategies.

Association Between Changes in Smoking Habits and Incident Fracture After Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of stroke, particularly the older population, are at an increased risk of falls and incident fractures. Smoking is a widely recognized risk factor for fractures. However, the association between changes in smoking habits before and after an index stroke and increased risk of fracture remains unelucidated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the Korean National Health Insurance program, patients with ischemic stroke between 2010 and 2016 were enrolled. Individuals were classified by smoking habits: "never smoker," "former smoker," "smoking quitter," "new smoker," and "sustained smoker." The primary outcome was the composite outcome of the vertebral, hip, and any fractures. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was conducted, using the never-smoker group as the reference. Among 177 787 patients with health screening data within 2 years before and after ischemic stroke, 14 991 (8.43%) patients had any fractures. After multivariable adjustment, the sustained smokers had a significantly increased risk of composite primary outcomes of any, vertebral, and hip fractures (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.222 [95% CI, 1.124-1.329]; aHR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.13-1.428]; aHR, 1.502 [95% CI, 1.218-1.853], respectively). Additionally, the new smoker group exhibited a similar or higher risk of any fractures and hip fractures (aHR, 1.218 [95% CI, 1.062-1.397]; aHR, 1.772 [95% CI, 1.291-2.431], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sustained smokers had a significantly increased risk of vertebral and hip fractures after an ischemic stroke. The risk of any hip fractures was higher in new smokers after ischemic stroke. As poststroke fractures are detrimental to the rehabilitation process of patients with stroke, physicians should actively advise patients to stop smoking.

Risk factors for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture: a case‒control study.

BACKGROUND: Early assessment of the risk of nonunion in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) is beneficial to early clinical decision making. However, a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors for OVCF nonunion is lacking. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study to investigate risk factors for OVCF nonunion. Patients who underwent surgery for nonunited OVCFs between January 2011 and December 2021 were eligible for inclusion as cases. Patients with successful OVCF healing confirmed by MRI over the same period were identified as controls. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and fasting blood test data were extracted for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 201 patients with nonunited OVCFs and 1044 controls were included to evaluate the risk factors for nonunited OVCFs. There were statistically significant differences in sex, age, number of patients with hypertension, number of patients on bed rest after OVCF and T-score of BMD between the two groups. Logistic regression showed that female patients had a higher risk of OVCF nonunion than male patients and that smoking, drinking, diabetes, and hypertension were risk factors for nonunion of OVCFs, while bed rest and spinal support were protective factors against nonunion of OVCFs. We also found that age, BMD, FBG, and ß-CTX were positively correlated with nonunited OVCFs, and that HGB and 1,25-(OH)2VitD3 level were negatively correlated with nonunited OVCFs. CONCLUSION: Smoking, drinking, diabetes and hypertension were risk factors for nonunion of OVCFs, while bed rest and spinal support were protective factors against nonunion of OVCFs. Age, BMD, FBG and ß-CTX were positively correlated with nonunited OVCFs, while HGB and 1,25-(OH)2VitD3 level were negatively correlated with nonunited OVCFs. Based on the results of our study, we suggest that bed rest or spinal support for at least 3 consecutive weeks is necessary to reduce the risk of OVCFs nonunion.

Low Hounsfield unit values on computed tomography as a potential predictor of vertebral fracture in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: The KURAMA cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Hounsfield units (HU) measured using computed tomography (CT) have gained considerable attention for the detection of osteoporosis. This study aimed to investigate whether opportunistic CT could predict vertebral fractures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 233 patients with RA who underwent chest CT were included in this study. The HU values of the anterior 1/3 of the vertebral bodies based on the sagittal plane at T11-L2 after reconstruction were measured. The incidence of vertebral fractures was investigated with respect to the HU value. RESULTS: Vertebral fractures were identified in 32 patients during a mean follow-up period of 3.8 years. In patients who experienced vertebral fractures within 2 years of CT imaging, the HU values of the vertebral bodies (T11-L2) were lower than those in patients who did not experience fractures. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified that a T11 HU value of <125 was a risk factor for vertebral fracture within 2 years. Multivariate analysis showed that a T11 HU value of <125 and the existence of prevalent vertebral fractures were significant risk factors for fracture. CONCLUSION: HU measurements of the anterior 1/3 of the vertebral body are a potential predictor for vertebral fractures in patients with RA.

The positive impact of smoking cessation on fracture risk in a nationwide cohort study.

Many studies sought to demonstrate the association between smoking and fracture risk. However, the correlation between smoking and fractures remains controversial. This study aimed to examine the impact of smoking and smoking cessation on the occurrence of fractures using prospective nationwide cohort data. We enrolled those who underwent a National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) health checkup in 2009-2010 who had a previous health checkup 4-year prior (2005-2006). The study population of 4,028,559 subjects was classified into three groups (non-smoker, smoking cessation, current smoker). The study population was also analyzed according to fracture type (all fractures, vertebral fracture, hip fracture). Lastly, the smoking cessation group and current smoker group were divided into four subgroups based on a lifetime smoking amount cut-off of 20 pack-years (PY). Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of fracture were examined through a Cox proportional hazards model. After multivariable adjustment, non-smokers showed the lowest risk of fracture (HR = 0.818, CI 0.807-0.828, p < 0.0001) and smoking cessation significantly lowered the risk of fracture (HR 0.938, 95% CI 0.917-0.959, p < 0.0001) compared to current smokers. Regardless of 20PY, all smoking cessation subgroups showed significantly less risk of fractures than current smokers with ≥ 20PYs. Smoking increases the risk of fracture, and smoking cessation lowers the risk of fracture.

The influence of pelvic tilt on sacral insufficiency fracture occurrence: Insights into the prevalence of high pelvic tilt among patients affected.

INTRODUCTION: Fragility fractures without significant trauma of the pelvic ring in older patients have an increasing incidence due to demographic change. Influencing factors other than osteoporotic bone quality that lead to an insufficiency fracture are not yet known. However, it is suspected that the pelvic tilt (PT) has an effect on the development of such an insufficiency fracture. This study explores the influence of the PTs in patients with insufficiency fractures of the posterior pelvic ring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 49 geriatric patients with fragility fractures of the pelvic ring were treated at a university hospital level-1 trauma center during a period between February and December 2023, and their fractures were classified according to the FFP classification of Rommens and Hofmann. Complete sets of computer tomography (CT) and radiological images were available to determine the PT angle of the patients. RESULTS: 34 FFP type 2 and 15 FFP type 3 classified patients were included in the study. Significant difference was seen in the pelvic tilt (PT) angle between the patient group with insufficiency fractures (n= 49; mean age: 78.02 ± 11.80) and the control group with lumbago patients (n= 53; mean age: 69.23 ± 11.23). The PT was significantly higher in the patients with insufficiency fractures (25.74° ± 4.76; p⁎⁎⁎⁎ ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates a significant extension of the PT angle of individuals with insufficiency fractures when compared to those with lumbago. The result suggests a potential association between pelvic tilt and fracture susceptibility. TRIAL REGISTRATION: A retrospective study about the influence of sagittal balance of the spine on insufficiency fractures of the posterior pelvic ring measured by the "pelvic tilt angle", DRKS00032120. Registered 20th June 2023 - Prospectively registered. Trial registration number DRKS00032120.

Reliability of thoracolumbar burst fracture classification in the Swedish Fracture Register.

BACKGROUND: The Swedish Fracture Register (SFR) is a national quality register for all types of fractures in Sweden. Spine fractures have been included since 2015 and are classified using a modified AOSpine classification. The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of the classification of thoracolumbar burst fractures in the SFR. METHODS: Assessments of medical images were conducted in 277 consecutive patients with a thoracolumbar burst fracture (T10-L3) identified in the SFR. Two independent reviewers classified the fractures according to the AOSpine classification, with a third reviewer resolving disagreement. The combined results of the reviewers were considered the gold standard. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of the reviewers was determined with Cohen's kappa and percent agreement. The SFR classification was compared with the gold standard using positive predictive values (PPV), Cohen's kappa and percent agreement. RESULTS: The reliability between reviewers was  high (Cohen's kappa 0.70-0.97). The PPV for correctly classifying burst fractures in the SFR was high irrespective of physician experience (76-89%), treatment (82% non-operative, 95% operative) and hospital type (83% county, 95% university). The inter-rater reliability of B-type injuries and the overall SFR classification compared with the gold standard was low (Cohen's kappa 0.16 and 0.17 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The SFR demonstrates a high PPV for accurately classifying burst fractures, regardless of physician experience, treatment and hospital type. However, the reliability of B-type injuries and overall classification in the SFR was found to be low. Future studies on burst fractures using SFR data where classification is important should include a review of medical images to verify the diagnosis.

The yield of routine laboratory examination in osteoporosis evaluation in primary care.

This study evaluated the yield of routine laboratory examination in a large population of older women in primary care. The prevalence of laboratory abnormalities was low and the clinical consequences in follow-up were limited. There was a weak association of laboratory abnormalities with osteoporosis but no association with vertebral fractures and recent fractures. PURPOSE: Most osteoporosis guidelines advice routine laboratory examination. We have investigated the yield of laboratory examinations in facture risk evaluation of elderly women in primary care. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of laboratory abnormalities and their association with risk factors for fractures, recent fractures, low bone mineral density (BMD), and prevalent vertebral fracture in 8996 women ≥ 65 years of age participating in a primary care fracture risk screening study. In a sample of 2208 of these participants, we also evaluated the medical consequences in the medical records during a follow-up period of ≥ 1 year. RESULTS: Vitamin D deficiency (< 30 nmol/L) was present in 13% and insufficiency (< 50 nmol/L) in 43% of the study sample. The prevalence of other laboratory abnormalities (ESR, calcium, creatinine, FT4) was 4.6% in women with risk factors for fractures, 6.1% in women with low BMD (T-score ≤ - 2.5), 6.0% after a prevalent vertebral fracture, 5.2% after a recent fracture and 2.6% in the absence of important risk factors for fractures. Laboratory abnormalities other than vitamin D were associated with low BMD (OR 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.8) but not with prevalent vertebral fractures nor recent fractures. Low BMD was associated with renal failure (OR 2.0, 95%CI 1.3-3.4), vitamin D insufficiency (OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.0-1.3) and deficiency (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.1-.5). In the follow-up period, 82% of the laboratory abnormalities did not result in a new diagnosis or treatment reported in the medical records. CONCLUSIONS: We identified a low prevalence of laboratory abnormalities in a primary care population of older women and the majority of these findings had no medical consequences.

Association between pharmacotherapy and secondary vertebral fracture managed with a brace in a real-world setting: A nationwide database study in Japan.

AIM: This retrospective cohort study assessed the association between the incidence of secondary vertebral fracture managed with a brace (SVF) and pharmacotherapy. METHODS: The association between the incidence of SVF and the presence, type, and medication possession ratio (MPR) of pharmacotherapy was investigated using medical insurance data acquired from the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. RESULTS: The data of female patients (n = 637 303) were analyzed. The 2-year incidence of SVF was 73.5 per 10 000 patients (n = 4687). Approximately 0.73% of patients without medications and 0.74% with medications had SVF. Patients taking bisphosphonates (0.87), denosumab (0.77), and selective estrogen receptor modulators (0.88) had significantly lower standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) than patients not taking medications after the occurrence of primary fracture; meanwhile, patients taking parathyroid hormone medications had considerably higher SIRs than those not taking medications. The non-SVF group (59.1%) had a significantly higher mean MPR than the SVF group (55.5%). Patients taking denosumab in the non-SVF group (68.2%) had the highest mean MPR. The proportion of patients taking denosumab with an MPR of ≥80% in the non-SVF group was significantly higher than that in the SVF group. CONCLUSION: Patients taking medications were at a lower risk of developing SVF than those not taking medications. Although this study did not compare the medications' SVF prevention effects, patients taking denosumab had a 0.77 SIR of SVF in Japan. The effect of pharmacotherapy on SVF prevention might be affected by the MPR of each medication. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 390-397.

Differences in Vertebral Morphology and bone Mineral Density between Grade 1 Vertebral Fracture and Non-Fractured Participants in the Chinese Population.

PURPOSE: To investigate the difference in vertebral morphology and bone mineral density (BMD) between grade 1 VFs and non-fractured participants in the Chinese population to shed light on the clinical significance of grade 1 VFs from various perspectives. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients who received a chest low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan for health examination and visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan, China, from October 2019 to August 2022. Data were analyzed from March 2023 to July 2023. The main outcome of this study was the difference in morphological parameters and BMD between grade 1 VFs and non-fractured participants. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs in China populations was calculated. The difference in BMD of three fracture types in the Grade 1 group was also evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 3652 participants (1799 males, 54.85 ± 9.02 years, range, 40-92 years; 1853 females, 56.00 ± 9.08 years, range, 40-93 years) were included. The prevalence of grade 2 and 3 increase with age. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs gradually increases ≤ 50y to 60-69y group, but there is a decrease in the ≥ 70 years male group (6.6%) and a rise in the female group (25.5%). There was no significant statistical difference observed in vertebral shape indices (VSI) and BMD between the Grade 1 group and the no-fractured group aged < 50 years old except the wedge index in male. The biconcavity index did not differ between the non-fractured group and the Grade 1 group in men aged 50-59 years, whereas a significant statistical difference was observed in women. Additionally, the results of BMD were consistent with these findings. For the 40-59 years age group, there were significant differences between the compression deformity group and the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The grade 1 group had higher VSI and lower BMD than the non-fractured group, suggesting an association between the Grade 1 group and osteoporosis in individuals aged over 50 for women and over 60 for men. Different fracture types have significant variations in BMD among middle-aged people. The prevalence of grade 1 VFs exhibits an age-related increase in both genders, with opposite trends observed between older males and females. We suggested VSI can aid physicians in the diagnosis of grade 1 VFs.

Risk factors for hip and vertebral fractures in chronic kidney disease: the CRIC study.

Fracture risk is high in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and underlying pathophysiology and risk factors may differ from the general population. In a cohort study of 3939 participants in the chronic renal insufficiency cohort (CRIC), we used Cox regression to test associations of putative risk factors with the composite of first hip or vertebral fracture assessed using hospital discharge codes. Mean age was 58 years, 45% were female, 42% were Black, and 13% were Hispanic. There were 82 hip and 24 vertebral fractures over a mean (SD) 11.1 (4.8) years (2.4 events per 1000 person-years [95% CI: 2.0, 2.9]). Measured at baseline, diabetes, lower body mass index (BMI), steroid use, proteinuria, and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) were each associated with fracture risk after adjusting for covariates. Lower time-updated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was associated with fractures (HR 1.20 per 10 mL/min/1.73m2 lower eGFR; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.38) as were lower time-updated serum calcium and bicarbonate concentrations. Among time-updated categories of kidney function, hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident fracture were 4.53 (1.77, 11.60) for kidney failure treated with dialysis and 2.48 (0.86, 7.14) for post-kidney transplantation, compared with eGFR ≥60. Proton pump inhibitor use, dietary calcium intake, measures of vitamin D status, serum phosphate, urine calcium and phosphate, and plasma fibroblast growth factor-23 were not associated with fracture risk. In conclusion, lower eGFR in CKD is associated with higher fracture risk, which was highest in kidney failure. Diabetes, lower BMI, steroid use, proteinuria, higher serum concentrations of PTH, and lower calcium and bicarbonate concentrations were associated with fractures and may be modifiable risk factors.

People with chronic kidney disease are at high risk of fractures. Our research assessed the relationship between several patient characteristics and the risk of fractures in 3939 patients with chronic kidney disease. We found that the following characteristics were associated with a higher risk of a hip or spine fracture: having diabetes, lower body mass index, use of steroid-containing medications, lower kidney filtration rate ("eGFR"), higher amounts of protein spilled in the urine, lower calcium and bicarbonate levels, and higher parathyroid hormone levels. Future studies should assess if improving these characteristics decreases the risk of fractures in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Forgetting the Frail: National Trends in Vitamin D Prescription After Fragility Fracture-A Large Insurance Claims Database Study.

INTRODUCTION: Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health, affecting bone mineral density and fracture healing. Insufficient serum vitamin D levels are associated with increased fracture rates. Despite guidelines advocating vitamin D supplementation, little is known about the prescription rates after fragility fractures. This study aims to characterize vitamin D prescription rates after three common fragility fractures in patients older than 50 years and explore potential factors influencing prescription rates. METHODS: The study used the PearlDiver Database, identifying patients older than 50 years with hip fractures, spinal compression fractures, or distal radius fractures between 2010 and 2020. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and vitamin D prescription rates were analyzed. Statistical methods included chi-square analysis and univariate and multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 3,214,294 patients with fragility fractures were included. Vitamin D prescriptions increased from 2.50% to nearly 6% for all fracture types from 2010 to 2020. Regional variations existed, with the Midwest having the highest prescription rate (4.25%) and the West the lowest (3.31%). Patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, tobacco use, obesity, female sex, age older than 60 years, and osteoporosis were more likely to receive vitamin D prescriptions. DISCUSSION: Despite a notable increase in vitamin D prescriptions after fragility fractures, the absolute rates remain low. Patient comorbidities influenced prescription rates, perhaps indicating growing awareness of the link between vitamin D deficiency and these conditions. However, individuals older than 60 years, a high-risk group, were markedly less likely to receive prescriptions, possibly because of practice variations and concerns about polypharmacy. Educational initiatives and revised guidelines may have improved vitamin D prescription rates after fragility fractures. However, there is a need to raise awareness about the importance of vitamin D for bone health, particularly in older adults, and additional study variations in prescription practices. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing post-fracture care to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with fragility fractures. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Risk Factors for Blunt Cerebrovascular Injury in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients With Cervical Seat Belt Sign.

BACKGROUND: Blunt cerebrovascular injury (BVCI), injury to the carotid or vertebral arteries, may result from forces involving seatbelts. Although previous studies have not found a seat belt sign to be a significant predictor for BCVI, it is still used to screen patients for BCVI. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine risk factors for BCVI within a cohort of patients with seat belt signs. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using our institutional trauma registry and included patients younger than 18 years with blunt trauma who both had a computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the neck performed and had evidence of a seat belt sign per the medical record. We reported frequencies, proportions, and measures of central tendency and conducted univariate analysis to evaluate factors associated with BCVI. We estimated the magnitude of the effect of each variable associated with the study outcome by conducting logistic regression and reporting odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Among all study patients, BCVI injuries were associated with Injury Severity Score higher than 15 ( P = 0.04), cervical spinal fractures ( P = 0.007), or basilar skull fractures ( P = 0.01). We observed higher proportions of children with BCVI when other motorized and other blunt mechanisms were reported as the mechanisms of injury ( P = 0.002) versus motor vehicle collision. CONCLUSIONS: Significant risk factors for BCVI in the presence of seat belt sign are: Injury severity score greater than 15, cervical spinal fracture, basilar skull fracture, and the other motorized mechanism of injury, similar to those in all children at risk of BCVI.

The significance of recent fracture location for imminent risk of hip and vertebral fractures-a nationwide cohort study on older adults in Sweden.

The role of recent fracture site in predicting the most detrimental subsequent fractures, hip and vertebral, is unclear. This study found that most recent fracture sites were associated with an increased risk of both hip and vertebral fracture, a finding that may impact the design of secondary prevention programs. BACKGROUND: Hip and vertebral fractures are the most serious in terms of associated morbidity, mortality, and societal costs. There is limited evidence as to which fracture types are associated with the highest risk for subsequent hip and vertebral fractures. This study aims to explore the dependency of imminent hip and vertebral fracture risk on the site of the recent index fracture. METHODS: Conducted as a nationwide retrospective cohort study, we utilized Swedish national registers to assess the risk of hip and vertebral fractures based on the site of the recent (≤ 2 years) index fracture and an old (> 2 years) prevalent fracture. This risk was compared to that observed in individuals without any prevalent fractures. This study encompassed all Swedes aged 50 years and older between 2007 and 2010. Patients with a recent fracture were categorized into specific groups based on the type of their previous fracture and were followed until December 2017, with censoring for death and migration. The study assessed the risk of hip and vertebral fractures during the follow-up period. RESULTS: The study included a total of 3,423,320 individuals, comprising 145,780 with a recent fracture, 293,051 with an old fracture, and 2,984,489 without a previous fracture. The median follow-up times for the three groups were 7.6 years (IQR 4.0-9.1), 7.9 years (5.8-9.2), and 8.5 years (7.4-9.7), respectively. Patients with a recent fracture at almost all sites exhibited a significantly increased risk of hip fracture and an elevated risk of vertebral fracture compared to controls. Patients with recent fractures had an increased risk of subsequent hip and vertebral fractures, regardless of the index fracture site. These results strengthen the notion that all patients with a recent fracture, regardless of fracture site, should be included in secondary prevention programs, to improve the prevention of the clinically most serious fractures.

Trabecular bone mineral density as measured by thoracic vertebrae predicts incident hip and vertebral fractures: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

We evaluated the relationship of bone mineral density (BMD) by computed tomography (CT), to predict fractures in a multi-ethnic population. We demonstrated that vertebral and hip fractures were more likely in those patients with low BMD. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that CT BMD derived from thoracic vertebrae can predict future hip and vertebral fractures. PURPOSE/INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis affects an enormous number of patients, of all races and both sexes, and its prevalence increases as the population ages. Few studies have evaluated the association between the vertebral trabecular bone mineral density(vBMD) and osteoporosis-related hip fracture in a multiethnic population, and no studies have demonstrated the predictive value of vBMD for fractures. METHOD: We sought to determine the predictive value of QCT-based trabecular vBMD of thoracic vertebrae derived from coronary artery calcium scan for hip fractures in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis(MESA), a nationwide multicenter cohort included 6814 people from six medical centers across the USA and assess if low bone density by QCT can predict future fractures. Measures were done using trabecular bone measures, adjusted for individual patients, from three consecutive thoracic vertebrae (BDI Inc, Manhattan Beach CA, USA) from non-contrast cardiac CT scans. RESULTS: Six thousand eight hundred fourteen MESA baseline participants were included with a mean age of 62.2 ± 10.2 years, and 52.8% were women. The mean thoracic BMD is 162.6 ± 46.8 mg/cm3 (95% CI 161.5, 163.7), and 27.6% of participants (n = 1883) had osteoporosis (T-score 2.5 or lower). Over a median follow-up of 17.4 years, Caucasians have a higher rate of vertebral fractures (6.9%), followed by Blacks (4.4%), Hispanics (3.7%), and Chinese (3.0%). Hip fracture patients had a lower baseline vBMD as measured by QCT than the non-hip fracture group by 13.6 mg/cm3 [P < 0.001]. The same pattern was seen in the vertebral fracture population, where the mean BMD was substantially lower 18.3 mg/cm3 [P < 0.001] than in the non-vertebral fracture population. Notably, the above substantial relationship was unaffected by age, gender, race, BMI, hypertension, current smoking, medication use, or activity. Patients with low trabecular BMD of thoracic vertebrae showed a 1.57-fold greater risk of first hip fracture (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.38-1.95) and a nearly threefold increased risk of first vertebral fracture (HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.87-4.59) compared to normal BMD patients. CONCLUSION: There is significant correlation between thoracic trabecular BMD and the incidence of future hip and vertebral fracture. This study demonstrates that thoracic vertebrae BMD, as measured on cardiac CT (QCT), can predict both hip and vertebral fractures without additional radiation, scanning, or patient burden. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are markedly underdiagnosed. Finding occult disease affords the opportunity to treat the millions of people undergoing CT scans every year for other indications.

Male-female disparity in clinical features and significance of mild vertebral fractures in community-dwelling residents aged 50 and over.

This investigation examined the clinical implications of mild vertebral fractures in older community-dwelling residents. Focusing on the locomotion health of older individuals, the earlier reported Obuse study enrolled 415 randomly sampled Japanese residents aged between 50 and 89 years, 411 of whom underwent X-ray evaluations for pre-existing vertebral fractures. A blinded assessment of vertebral fractures based on Genant's criteria was conducted on the T5-L5 spine for rating on a severity scale. Grade 1 mild fractures were not linked to age in males, but increased with aging in females. Female participants had fewer Grade 1 and 2 fractures (P = 0.003 and 0.035, respectively) but more Grade 3 fractures (P = 0.013) than did males independently of age (Grade 1, 2, and 3: 25%, 16%, and 9% in females and 40%, 22%, and 6% in males, respectively). Weak negative correlations were observed between the number of fractures and bone mineral density in females for all fracture grades (Spearman's rho: 0.23 to 0.36, P < 0.05). Our study showed that Grade 1 mild vertebral fractures in males lacked pathological significance, while in females they potentially indicated fragility fractures and were related to poor lumbopelvic alignment.