Association between Trunk Muscle Mass and Progression of Vertebral Collapse in Patients Treated Conservatively for Vertebral Compression Fractures.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the relationship between trunk muscle mass and progression of vertebral collapse in elderly patients treated conservatively for vertebral compression fractures.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in a convalescent ward and included 104 patients (36 men, 68 women; mean age: 83.8 years, minimum age: 65 years) with vertebral compression fractures. Using the semi-quantitative (SQ) method, patients were divided into two groups: the vertebral collapse group (SQ grade increased by at least 1 from admission to discharge) and the vertebral non-collapse group (no change in SQ grade from admission to discharge). The following data were retrieved from medical records: age at admission, sex, fracture site, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Appendicular Skeletal Muscle Mass Index, Trunk Muscle Mass Index (TMI), bone mineral content, Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), and Sagittal Vertical Axis (SVA) change. Intergroup and logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with the progression of vertebral collapse.

RESULTS

Comparison between the vertebral collapse group and the non-collapse group showed significant difference in TMI (6.2±0.9 kg/m2 vs. 5.5±0.6 kg/m2, P<0.01), MNA-SF (9.4±1.8 vs. 8±2.1, P<0.01), and SVA change (0.3±0.2 cm vs. 0.7±0.3 cm, P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed that TMI was significantly associated with progression to vertebral collapse, regardless of sex [men, odds ratio (OR): 0.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06-0.73, P<0.05; women, OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.12-0.71, P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

Trunk muscle mass was associated with the progression of vertebral collapse in patients receiving conservative treatment for vertebral compression fractures.