Unreported Vertebral Body Compression Fractures at Abdominal Multidetector CT

Authors:
  • BPB. Dustin Pooler
    B. Dustin Pooler
  • NBNeil Binkley
    Neil Binkley
  • TLTravis B. Lauder
    Travis B. Lauder
  • RBRichard J. Bruce
    Richard J. Bruce
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Abstract
The lack of routine review of the sagittal reconstructions of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine at abdominal CT results in a very low detection rate of moderate or severe vertebral compression fractures. PurposeTo retrospectively assess the prevalence and clinical outcomes of unreported vertebral compression fractures at abdominal computed tomography (CT).Materials and MethodsThis HIPAA-compliant study had institutional review board approval; the need for informed consent was waived for this retrospective analysis. A total of 2041 consecutive adult patients (1640 women, 401 men; age range, 19–94 years) underwent both abdominal multidetector CT and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) within 6 months of each other between 2000 and 2007, before sagittal CT reconstructions were obtained routinely. Transverse (axial) and retrospective sagittal multidetector CT reconstructions were reviewed for the presence of moderate or severe vertebral body compression fractures of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine by using the Genant visual semiquantitative method. Twenty-six patients were excluded for evidence of pathologic fracture or for technical factors limiting compression fracture detection. Electronic medical r...

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