Risk factors for pseudoarthrosis after osteoporotic vertebral fracture

We analyzed 63 conservatively treated cases to identify risk factors for pseudarthrosis after an osteoporotic vertebral fracture. We divided the cases into two groups according to the type of orthosis, a group in which a soft spinal orthosis was group D, and a group in which a spinal hyperextension orthosis was group J, and we divided the fractures into three types based on the pathology, a type in which the posterior wall of the body of the vertebra was not destroyed (Type A), a type in which the posterior wall was destroyed (type B), and a type in which posterior wall destruction was associated with large vertebral body low-intensity changes on the T2-weighted image (Type C). The rate of pseudoarthrosis was 0% (0/17) in group D, type A, 5% (1/20) in group J, type A, 33% (1/3) in group D, type B, 8% (1/13) in group J, type B, 100% (4/4) in group D, type C, and 50% (3/6) in group J, type C. The risk factors for pseudoarthrosis were concluded to be destruction of the posterior wall of the body of the vertebra, soft spinal orthosis, and large low intensity changes in the vertebral body on T2-weighted images. (author)