title: [Correlation of vertebral body deformity and adjacent disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar compression fractures].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the correlation between vertebral body deformity and degeneration of the adjacent intervertebral discs in patients with old thoracolumbar compression fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one patients who had been conservatively treated after single segment thoracolumbar compression fractures between April, 2011 and May, 2014 were enrolled in this study. Both radiographic and magnetic resonance (MR) images of the thoracolumbar segment were obtained. The involved vertebral body deformity was rated on radiography according to the Genant criterion, and the degeneration of the adjacent cephalic and caudal discs was assessed on MR images using the Oner and Pfirrmann classification schemes, respectively. The relationship between vertebral body deformity and adjacent disc changes was assessed using correlation analysis, and the changes in the adjacent cranial and caudal discs was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Genant classification of the involved vertebral bodies was moderately correlated with Oner morphological scores (r=0.48, P<0.01), but not with the Pfirrmann signal scores of the adjacent cephalic discs or with the Genant or Pfirrmann scores of the adjacent caudal discs (P>0.05). The Oner classification of the adjacent cephalic discs was higher than that of the adjacent caudal discs (P<0.01), but their Pfirrmann classification did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The deformity of vertebral body affects the adjacent cephalic discs proportionally but not the adjacent caudal discs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Academy of Orthopedics of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510630, China.E-mail: letitb@163.com.
authors.forename: Yunneng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Shaolin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yinxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Huang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cen
mesh_terms: D050815:Fractures, Compression; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*