Bone mineral density variations along the lumbosacral spine
Abstract
Vertebral bone quality is essential in vertebral strength and the stability of spinal screw fixation. A major factor of bone quality is the density of bone mineral and its distribution throughout the bone. There have been studies regarding bone mineral density variations in the cervical and thoracolumbar spine, but bone mineral density variations in the lumbosacral spine have not been documented. The purpose of the current study was to quantify bone mineral density variations at different lumbosacral levels and within vertebra, especially along the pathways of lumbar pedicle screws. Bone mineral density variations within the vertebrae along the lumbosacral spine were measured in 13 specimens from young male cadavers using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Measurements included bone mineral density variations at different lumbosacral levels and in transverse layers and vertical columns within each vertebral body. These original data showed that the bone mineral density increased gradually from lumbar to S1 vertebrae, possibly reflecting a caudally increasing load on different lumbosacral levels. The highest bone mineral density in the lumbosacral spine is found at the pedicles and regions closest to pedicle bases, supporting the use of pedicle screw fixation.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Development of a crushable foam model for human trabecular bone
- Data-driven motion compensation in HR-pQCT.
- Modeling of structure, quality, and function in the orthodontic patient
- Exploring the mechanism of Heidihuang Pill in the treatment of osteoporosis based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation
- Effect of fabric on the accuracy of computed tomography-based finite element analyses of the vertebra
- Use of interventions involving virtual reality tasks during the climacteric: a systematic review
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.