• Carlo Ruosi, S Liccardo, M Rubino, D Rossi, G Colella, C Di Somma, and A Colao.
• Department of Orthopaedics, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini 5, 80131, Naples, Italy, caruosi@unina.it.
• Eur Spine J. 2013 Nov 1;22 Suppl 6:S945-9.

IntroductionObesity and osteoporosis share many features and recent studies have identified many similarities suggesting common pathophysiological mechanisms. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of non-traumatic fractures despite bone mineral density (BMD) being normal or even increased.Materials And Methods54 obese subjects were analyzed (51 ± 16 years, 10 males, 44 females). Spinal deformity index (SDI) is a semi-quantitative method that may be a surrogate index of bone microarchitecture. SDI index was higher in patients than in controls. In 87.5 % of patients and 10 % of controls we found morphometric vertebral fractures, despite a DEXA Tscore not diagnostic of osteoporosis.ConclusionThe objective of this study was to assess in obese patients levels of 25OH vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, serum and urinary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), BMD, and SDI. 87.5 % of the obese subjects present nontraumatic vertebral fractures and reduced bone quality as measured by SDI.

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