title: An assessment system for evaluating the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture and its clinical application: A retrospective study of 381 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We put forward an assessment system of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture (ASTLOF) evaluating the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture. This study was to investigate its efficacy in guiding clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and eighty-one patients with thoracolumbar vertebral osteoporosis fracture admitted to the hospital from January 2010 to December 2011 were enrolled in the study. All cases were evaluated by ASTLOF including evaluation of morphological changes, MRI, bone mineral density and pain. The patients were treated with different methods according to ASTLOF score. All patients were followed up on a regular basis. The treatment results were assessed by VAS and ODI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients were followed up with an average of 20.1 (range: 6-30) months. There were 91 cases of ASTLOF score<4 points. Their average VAS score decreased from 8.0 ± 1.7 points to 2.0 ± 1.3 with statistical significance (P<0.05) and the average ODI score decreased from 69.5 ± 2.8 to 38.1 ± 1.5 (P<0.05). One hundred and thirty-two cases were with ASTLOF score=4, with the average VAS score decreased from 8.2 ± 1.4 to 1.9 ± 1.2 (P<0.05) and the average ODI score decreased from 71.5 ± 3.7 to 36.2 ± 2.5 (P<0.05). There were 158 cases of ASTLOF score ≥ 5, with the VAS score decreased from 8.0 ± 1.7 to 2.0 ± 1.3 and the ODI score decreased from 69.5 ± 2.8 to 38.1 ± 1.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ASTLOF based on the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture was suggested to be helpful in guiding clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Zhengwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China. Electronic address: haodingjun6@163.com.
authors.forename: Dingjun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Baorong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Tuanjiang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, Xi'an Jiaotong University Medical College Hong Hui Hospital, No. 76 Nanguo Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710054, China.
authors.forename: Dongqi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D058498:Kyphoplasty; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D065289:Pedicle Screws; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054854:Vertebroplasty
keywords: Clinical application; Score assessment; Severity; Thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture