Spectrum of Osteoporosis Etiologies with Associated Vertebral Compression Fractures in Children: Analysis of 11 Cases
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Pediatric osteoporosis is a multifactorial condition characterized by impaired bone mineralization and increased fracture risk, particularly vertebral compression fractures. This study aims to evaluate the diverse etiology, diagnostic challenges, and treatment options for pediatric osteoporosis in a cohort of affected children. Methods: We reviewed eleven pediatric patients (aged 5-16 years) diagnosed with vertebral fractures and osteoporosis, who were hospitalized between 2020 and 2024 at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at PMMH-RI in Lodz. Clinical evaluation included medical history, physical examination, biochemical markers of bone metabolism, and imaging techniques such as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to determine underlying causes of bone fragility. Results: The cohort presented a broad etiological spectrum, including seven patients with genetic disorders (e.g., mutations in COL1A1, LRP5, SGMS2, and ALPL genes) and secondary osteoporosis due to chronic diseases requiring prolonged glucocorticoid therapy (two patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), one patient with Crohn's disease) or endocrinological disorders (one patient with Cushing disease). Vertebral fractures were confirmed in all patients, with back pain as the predominant symptom. Low bone mass (BMD Z-score Conclusions: Pediatric osteoporosis requires a multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic approach, integrating clinical, biochemical, and…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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