Vertebral morphometry in women aged 50-81 years.
Vertebral dimensions and vertebral shape indices (VSI) were investigated in T4-L4 in 926 females aged 50-81 years. The most consistent finding was the increase of inferior antero-posterior dimension with age. Wedging and concavity also increased with age but the changes were not significant at all vertebral levels. The value of VSIs also varied with level. Thus a particular degree of VSI, considered normal at one level or at one age, would be outside the reference range at a different level or age group. The number of subjects identified as osteoporotic by skewness (5.4%) or in excess of three standard deviations from the mean (6.5%) was much lower than in recent reports from North America. The number of subjects contributing to a skewed distribution increased with age from 0.5% at 55-59 years to 10.0% at 75-79 years. Change with age in the antero-posterior dimension could increase load-bearing area in older subjects, but the decline in bone density will be increased as a declining bone mineral content occupies a larger volume.
Evans
S F
SF
Charles Salt Centre, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire, UK.
Nicholson
P H
PH
Haddaway
M J
MJ
Davie
M W
MW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*