The role of three-dimensional trabecular microstructure in the pathogenesis of vertebral compression fractures

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Abstract
We compared indices of three-dimensional microstructure of iliac trabecular bone between 26 patients with vertebral compression fractures due to postmenopausal osteoporosis and 24 control subjects without vertebral fracture, who were matched for age, sex, race, menopausal status, and several densitometric and histologic indices of both cortical and trabecular bone mass. The patients with fracture had a significantly lower mean value (1.03±0.15 vs. 1.26±0.26;PP<0.001). We conclude that the biomechanical competence of trabecular bone is dependent not only on the absolute amount of bone present but also on the trabecular microstructure.