[Bone density of spongiosa and cortical bone of the lumbar spine. Relations to sex, age and spinal deformities in a regional collective of the European Study of Vertebral Osteoporosis (EVOS)].

BACKGROUND AND METHOD

In an additional bone density measurement protocol to the European Vertebral Osteoporosis Study (EVOS) separate spongious and cortical density measurements (sQCT) were carried out at the first 3 lumbar vertebrae in 293 volunteers (92 men and 201 women) in 3 Berlin regional centers.

RESULTS

The spongious mineral density decreases from proximal to distal (L1 to L3), the cortical density increases from proximal to distal, mainly in men. Men showed no significant decrease of cortical density and a lower decrease of spongious density with age compared to women. A comparison of bone mineral density with vertebral height indices of McCloskey/Kanis, Eastell/Melton and Felsenberg showed significant differences of spongious density between a group with normal vertebral height and a group with at least one pathologically degraded vertebra. Individuals with osteoporosis according to the WHO-definition showed a higher prevalence of vertebral deformities. No significant loss of cortical density was observed in these people.