Serial MRI findings of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the thoracic and lumbar spine

The prognosis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the thoracic and lumbar spine was studied by serial MRI findings. This study covered 80 vertebrae in 69 patients treated conservatively and followed-up for more than six months (23 males and 46 females, average age 70 yrs). Group A, characterized by poor diagnostic imaging, consisted of patients who had both severely collapsed vertebra which was progressive in the lateral roentgenogram and delayed improvement in MRI signal intensities. Group B, consisting of poor clinical prognosis, comprised patients with persistent back pain. The predictive factors for Group A were found to be T1-low finding over the entire vertebra within one month after injury and fractures of Th12 or L1 vertebra. Areas of T1-low and T2-low intensity adjacent to the vertebral disc presented no improvement in signal intensity and often caused persistent back pain. (author)