Abstract
Trabecular structures in vertebral bodies are unequally distributed in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, and also within individual vertebrae. Knowledge of the microstructure of these entities could influence our comprehension and treatment of osteoporotic fractures, and even surgical procedures. Appropriate investigations may clarify the pathomechanisms of various osteoporotic fractures (fish, wedge-shaped, and flat vertebrae). We obtained three cancellous bone cylinders from the centers and margins of cervical vertebra 3 to lumbar vertebra 5, and investigated these in regard of bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, separation, trabecular number, trabecular bone pattern factor, connectivity density, and degree of anisotropy. Using a Jamshidi needle®, we obtained samples from three quadrants (QI: right-sided edge, QII: central, QIII: left-sided edge) of 242 prepared vertebrae, and investigated these on a micro-CT device. In all, 726 bone samples were taken from eleven body donors. Bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, and the degree of anisotropy were significantly lower in QII than in QI and QIII. Trabecular pattern factor, however, was significantly higher in QII than in QI and QIII. The results helped to explain fish vertebrae. Wedge fractures and flat vertebrae are most likely caused by the complex destruction of trabecular and cortical structures. The higher bone volume fraction in the cervical spine compared to the thoracic and lumbar spine accounts for the small number of fractures in the cervical spine. The marked trabecular pattern factor in the center of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae could be a reason for the surgeon to use different screw designs for individual vertebrae.
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Data availability
The datasets used and/or analyzed in the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- Al:
-
Aluminum
- BMD:
-
Bone mineral density
- BMI:
-
Body mass index
- BVF:
-
Bone volume fraction
- cm:
-
Centimeter
- Conn.D:
-
Connectivity density
- CS:
-
Cervical spine
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- CV:
-
Cervical vertebra
- DA:
-
Degree of anisotropy
- Fig.:
-
Figure
- Fs:
-
Fractures
- g/cm3 :
-
Gram/cubic centimeter
- HU:
-
Hounsfield units
- kV:
-
Kilovolt
- LV:
-
Lumbar vertebrae
- LS:
-
Lumbar spine
- M:
-
Mean value
- mg/cm3 :
-
Milligram/cubic centimeter
- Micro-CT:
-
Micro-computed tomography
- Mio.:
-
Million
- ml:
-
Milliliter
- mm:
-
Millimeter
- OP:
-
Osteoporosis
- Q I:
-
Quadrant I
- Q II:
-
Quadrant II
- Q III:
-
Quadrant III
- QCT:
-
Quantitative computed tomography
- ROI:
-
Region of interest
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- Tb.N:
-
Trabecular number
- Tb.Pf:
-
Trabecular pattern factor
- Tb.Sp:
-
Trabecular separation
- Tb.Th:
-
Trabecular thickness
- TS:
-
Thoracic spine
- TV:
-
Thoracic vertebra
- VFs:
-
Vertebral fractures
- µm:
-
Micrometer
- µA:
-
Microampere
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Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science and their gesture in promoting anatomical research. Results from such research could potentially enhance our overall knowledge and thus improve patient care. We express our utmost gratitude to these donors and their families.
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GS and HCS contributed to conceptualization. MS, LH, AMB and MM were involved in data acquisition. GS, RA, SB, AMB, HM and JRA contributed to data analysis or interpretation. GS, RA, and HCS were involved in drafting the manuscript. GS, RA, and HCS contributed to critical revisions of the manuscript. All authors approved the final version.
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Schröder, G., Baginski, A.M., Schulze, M. et al. Regional variations in the intra- and intervertebral trabecular microarchitecture of the osteoporotic axial skeleton. Anat Sci Int 98, 566–579 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00726-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00726-6