Abstract
Purpose
To study the relationship between Zygoapophysial Joint Tropism and pathologic fractures affecting lumbar and thoracic vertebrae in elderly patients.
Methods
The sagittal plane orientation of the Zygoapophysial joints (facets or ZAJ) of 324 vertebrae of 63 patients were measured on MRI scans, stratified into lumbar and thoracic, fractured and non-fractured, and then classified according to the presence of tropism. The correlation between tropism and fractures, demographics pertaining to age, spinal level, and morbidity were studied.
Results
From the 415 ZAJ pairs studied, 23 were excluded because of insufficient imaging leaving 388 ZAJ pairs. In 155 Thoracic ZAJ pairs, there 92 with a fracture, 39% demonstrating tropism; and there were 63 with no fracture, 43% demonstrating tropism. In 237 Lumbar ZAJ pairs, there were 144 with a fracture, 73% demonstrating tropism; there were 93 with no fracture, 42% demonstrating tropism.
Conclusion
Our study suggests a correlation between the emergence of pathological fractures in the spine and tropism which is statistically significant in the lumbar but not in the thoracic.
The authors confirm that this abstract has not been previously published in whole or substantial part nor has it been presented previously at a national meeting.
Conflicts of interest: No conflicts of interest
Sources of funding: No funding obtained
