title: Diagnosis of vertebral fractures by vertebral fracture assessment.
abstract: Vertebral fractures are independent risk factors for both vertebral and peripheral fractures and only one-third of these fractures come to clinical attention. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) is a radiographic method using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess vertebral deformities during bone density measurement. We performed VFA of the spine from T4 to L5 on a Delphi W device (Hologic, Bedford, MA) in 136 postmenopausal patients (69+/-10 yr). These patients also had X-rays of the thoracic and lumbar spine. VFA was independently compared with X-rays by two rheumatologists, for the diagnosis of vertebral fractures at both the patient and vertebral levels. Using X-rays, 61 patients (45%) had at least one vertebral fracture. The percentage of unreadable vertebrae was 1% and 12.4% on X-rays and VFA, respectively (p<0.0001). At the patient level, VFA allowed to diagnose if the patient had no fracture or had at least one fracture in 74% of patients. In 11.2% of cases, VFA misclassified the patients. At the vertebral level, diagnostic efficacy of VFA as compared with X-rays was 97%. Concordance between both observers was good (kappa-score=0.69). We designed an algorithm for decision of performing X-rays in postmenopausal women: Using results of VFA would avoid X-rays in 32% of our patients. VFA is a reliable technique with low radiation, and is easily and rapidly applicable during bone density measurement by DXA, which could improve management of osteoporotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Service de Rhumatologie, Université Paris-Descartes, Faculté de Médecine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Joël
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Damiano
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolta
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Porcher
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tournoux
authors.forename: Maxime
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dougados
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*