1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Intervertebral Disc Height In Premenopausal Women, Treated and Untreated Postmenopausal Women And Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures
Dr. Yves Muscat Baron, Dr Nicholas Felice, Prof. M. Brincat, Dr. R. Galea, Dr. N Calleja,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Mater Dei Hospital
MALTA
Results
The vertebral fracture group was noted to have the lowest disc height (1.38 ± SD 0.1cm) of the 3 discs D1 - D3. The D1 - D3 disc height in the HRT and premenopausal groups were similar (1.92 ± 0.35 cm) and ( 1.92 ± 0.3cm ) respectively. The disc heights in the other three groups (Calcium 1.49 ± 0.48, Untreated menopausal group 1.49 ± 0.48cm, Bisphosphonates 1.41 ± 0.47cm) were significantly lower than the oestrogen replete groups but were significantly higher than the osteoporotic vertebral fractures group (p < 0.001).
Cummings et al Lancet 2002
Methodology
The image of the vertebral spine on the computer screen was sought for the women recruited.
The adjustment mode was then employed allowing the horizontal cursors to be placed at the edges of the vertebral discs between the tenth thoracic vertebra
Conclusion
Postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures have significantly low disc heights. The disc heights are significantly lower than HRT treated and premenopausal women. The disc heights of the calcium and bisphosphonate groups were also significantly lower than the HRT treated and premenopausal women. These results suggests that the discoid shape and viscoelastic properties of the intervertebral discs may be relevant to the genesis of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and nonhormonally treated menopausal women also have significantly low disc heights.