title: Lumbar disc degeneration in osteoporotic men: prevalence and assessment of the relation with presence of vertebral fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The relationship between osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) remains controversial. An inverse relationship between spine OA and the presence of prevalent vertebral fractures has been shown in osteoporotic women. Our objective was to assess this relationship in osteoporotic men.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the patients had OP based on densitometric data and were aged ≥ 65 years. Spine radiographs were performed according to a standardized procedure. Vertebral fractures were assessed from T4 to L4 by a semiquantitative method. Disc degenerative changes were assessed by the presence and severity of osteophytes and disc narrowing at levels T12-L1 to L5-S1. Logistic regression was used to study the relationship between the presence of vertebral fracture and lumbar disc degeneration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 261 osteoporotic men. The prevalence of vertebral fractures was 26.4% (69/261). At least 1 osteophyte was found in 91.6% (239/261) of patients, and at least 1 disc space narrowing in 63.5% (165/260). The prevalence of at least 1 osteophyte and/or at least 1 disc space narrowing was similar in patients with and those without vertebral fracture. No relationship was found between the presence and/or the severity of osteophytes and disc narrowings and the presence of prevalent vertebral radiographic fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In osteoporotic men, the prevalence of lumbar spine degeneration is high. There is no relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and the presence of vertebral fracture in osteoporotic men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology B, Cochin Hospital, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France. isabelle.fabreguet@gmail.com
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fabreguet
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fechtenbaum
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Briot
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paternotte
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: FRACTURE; MALE; OSTEOARTHRITIS; OSTEOPOROSIS; PREVALENCE; SPINE