Undiagnosed vertebral fragility fractures in patients with distal radius fragility fractures: an opportunity for prevention of morbimortality in osteoporotic patients in developing countries
Authors' conclusion
Based on our study's findings, it is clear that osteoporotic vertebral fragility fractures occur in almost half of individuals with distal radius fractures. The lumbar spine is notably the most affected region, predominantly with wedge fractures.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged 45 years or older with low-energy distal radius fractures presenting to the ED of a tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, January 2021–January 2022
- Participants
- 512 patients
- Outcome
- Frequency, location, type and severity of asymptomatic vertebral fragility fractures (VFF)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, blinded assessor (Genant semiquantitative method)
- Single-centre
- Blinded assessor (Genant semiquantitative method)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Radiographic VFF (prevalence)
- Radiographic vertebral fragility fractures (VFF)
- 211 (41.21%)
- Thoracic spine affected
- 32.7%
- Lumbar spine affected
- 43.12%
- Multiple thoracolumbar fractures
- 24.17%
- Wedge type
- 54.5%
- Biconcave type
- 30.81%
- Crush type
- 14.7%
- Genant 25-40% height loss
- 64.9%
- Severe (> 40%) fractures
- 35.1%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Receiving osteoporotic therapy
- Patients on osteoporotic therapy
- 12 (2.34%)
Smoking, drinking, BMI and FRAX score, patients with vs without VFF
- No statistically significant variations between patients with and without VFF
Original publication
Undiagnosed vertebral fragility fractures in patients with distal radius fragility fractures: an opportunity for prevention of morbimortality in osteoporotic patients in developing countries. Osteoporos Int. Published 20 June 2024. doi:10.
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