Global Sagittal Alignment of the Spine, Pelvis, Lower Limb After Vertebral Compression Fracture and Its Effect on Quality of Life

Overview

Journal BMC Musculoskelet Disord

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Orthopedics
Physiology

Date 2021 May 25

PMID 34030686

Citations 8

Authors

Leo Tsz Ching Chau

Zongshan Hu

Koko Shaau Yiu Ko

Gene Chi Wai Man

Kwong Hang Yeung

Ying Yeung Law

Lawrence Chun Man Lau

Ronald Man Yeung Wong

Winnie Chiu Wing Chu

Jack Chun Yiu Cheng

Sheung Wai Law

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are the most common among all osteoporotic fractures. The body may compensate to the kyphosis from vertebral compression fractures with lordosis of the adjacent spinal segments, rotation of the pelvis, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion. However, the detailed degree of body compensation, especially the lower limb, remains uncertain. Herein, the aim of this study is to investigate the values of global sagittal alignments (GSA) parameters, including the spine, pelvis and lower limbs, in patients with and without VCFs, as well as to evaluate the effect of VCFs on various quality of life (QoL) parameters.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2015 to June 2018. A total of 142 patients with VCFs aged over 60 years old and 108 age-matched asymptomatic controls were recruited. Whole body sagittal alignment including thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), pelvic incidence (PI), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), T1-pelvic angle (TPA), knee-flex angle (KA) and ankle-flex angle (AA) were measured. In addition, lower back pain and quality of life were assessed using self-reported questionnaires.

Results: Compared to asymptomatic controls, patients with VCF showed significantly greater TK (33.4 ± 16.4 vs 28.4 ± 11.4; p < 0.01), PT (25.4 ± 10.5 vs 16.6 ± 8.9; p < 0.001), PI (54.6 ± 11.8 vs 45.8 ± 12.0; p < 0.001), SVA (49.1 mm ± 39.6 mm vs 31.5 mm ± 29.3 mm; p < 0.01), and TPA (28.6 ± 10.8 vs 14.8 ± 8.6; p < 0.001). Whereas for lower limb alignment, patients with VCF showed significantly higher KA (10.1 ± 7.8 vs 6.0 ± 6.4; p < 0.001) and AA (7.0 ± 3.9 vs 4.8 ± 3.6; p < 0.001) than controls. The number of VCF significantly correlated with lower limb alignments (KA and AA) and global sagittal balance (TPA). VCF patients showed poorer quality of life assessment scores in terms of SF-12 (30.0 ± 8.3 vs 72.4 ± 16.9; p < 0.001), ODI (37.8 ± 24.0 vs 18.7 ± 16.6; p < 0.001) and VAS (3.8 ± 2.8 vs 1.9 ± 2.2; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This is the first study to illustrate the abnormal lower limb alignment exhibited in patients with VCF. Patients with VCF showed an overall worse global sagittal alignment and decreased quality of life. Poorer global sagittal alignment of VCF patients also imply worse quality of life and more severe VCF.

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