Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
-
J. Bone Miner. Res. · Apr 1997
Comparative StudyClinical grading of spinal osteoporosis: quality of life components and spinal deformity in women with chronic low back pain and women with vertebral osteoporosis.
Clinical consequences of osteoporotic vertebral fractures, such as back pain, functional limitations, and impairment of mood, are often cited as justification for prevention and therapy. But these symptoms are poorly characterized, and a clinical grading system is not available. The aim of this study was to compare clinical measures for spinal deformation and quality of life components between patients with osteoporosis and patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to determine the relationship between spinal deformation and quality of life components. ⋯ We conclude that with respect to quality of life components, functional limitation is the most specific to spinal osteoporosis and is related to clinical measures of spinal deformation. Furthermore, spinal deformation and the clinical course of osteoporosis appears to be insufficiently reflected by radiological indices of vertebral deformity (such as SDI) alone. For grading the disease and for therapeutical concepts, radiological measures and clinical evaluation should be considered in combination.