Prevalence of vertebral fractures in children with suspected osteoporosis

Kyriakou, A., Shepherd, S., Mason, A. and Ahmed, S. F. (2016) Prevalence of vertebral fractures in children with suspected osteoporosis. Journal of Pediatrics, 179, pp. 219-225. (doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2016.08.075) (PMID:27640353)

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the prevalence and anatomic distribution of vertebral fractures in disease groups investigated for primary and secondary osteoporosis, using vertebral fracture assessment (VFA). Study design: VFA was performed independently by 2 nonradiologists, in 165 children (77 males, 88 females) as part of their investigation for osteoporosis. Vertebral bodies from T6 to L4 were assessed for vertebral fractures using the Genant scoring system. The common readings for the presence of vertebral fractures were used for evaluating the prevalence and anatomic distribution of vertebral fractures. Results: The median age of the subjects was 13.4 years (range, 3.6, 18). Of the 165 children, 24 (15%) were being investigated for primary bone disease, and the remainder had a range of chronic diseases known to affect bone health. Vertebral fractures were identified in 38 (23%) children. The distribution of the vertebral fractures was bimodal, with vertebral fractures peaks centered at T9 and L4. Conditions associated with increased odds for vertebral fractures were inflammatory bowel disease (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4, 8.0; P = .018) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.04, 5.8; P = .022). Among children with vertebral fractures, those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (P = .015) and osteogenesis imperfecta (P = .023) demonstrated higher number of vertebral fractures than the other disease groups. Conclusions: VFA identified the presence of vertebral fractures, in a bimodal distribution, in both primary bone disease and chronic disease groups. VFA is a practical screening tool for identification of vertebral fractures in children and adolescents at risk of fragility fractures.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Shepherd, Dr Sheila and Kyriakou, Dr Andreas and Mason, Dr Avril and Ahmed, Professor Syed Faisal
• Authors: Kyriakou, A., Shepherd, S., Mason, A., and Ahmed, S. F.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Pediatrics
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0022-3476
• ISSN (Online): 1097-6833
• Published Online: 15 September 2016
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc.
• First Published: First published in Journal of Pediatrics 179:219-225
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher