Vertebral Bone Marrow Edema (VBME) in conservatively treated acute Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCFs): Evolution and Clinical Correlations.

Objective. To assess (1) the evolution of vertebral bone marrow edema (VBME) in patients with A1 vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) conservatively treated and (2) the relationship between VBME and clinical symptoms, evaluated as Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) back pain and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Summary of Background Data. VBME is a marker of acute– subacute vertebral fractures. Little is known about the evolution of VBME in conservatively managed VCFs, as well as its clinical meaning. Methods. 82 thoracic or lumbar VCFs (21 post-traumatic; 61 osteoporotic VCFs), type A1 according to the AOSpine thoracolumbar spine injury classifi cation system, in 80 patients were treated with C35 hyperextension brace for 3 months, bed rest for the fi rst 25 days. Patients with osteoporotic fractures also received antiresorptive therapy and vitamin D supplementation. At 0 (T 0 ), 30 (T 1 ), 60 (T 2 ), and 90 (T 3 ) days, patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging evaluation and clinical evaluation, using VAS for pain and ODI. The paired t test was used to compare changes within groups at each follow-up versus baseline. The unpaired t test after ANOVA (analysis of variance) was used to compare the 2 groups at each follow-up. The association between VBME area, VAS score, and ODI score was analyzed by the Pearson correlation test. The tests were 2-tailed with....

OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) the evolution of VBME in patients with A1 VCFs conservatively treated and (2) the relationship between VBME and clinical symptoms, evaluated as VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) Back Pain and ODI (Oswestry Disability Index). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Vertebral Bone Marrow Edema (VBME) is a marker of acute/sub-acute vertebral fractures. Little is known about the evolution of VBME in conservatively managed vertebral compression fractures (VCFs), as well as its clinical meaning. METHODS: 82 thoracic or lumbar VCF (21 post-traumatic; 61 osteoporotic VCFs), type A1 according to AOSpine Thoracolumbar Spine Injury Classification System, in 80 patients were treated with C35 hyperextension brace for three months, bed rest for the first twenty-five days. Patients with osteoporotic fractures also received Antiresorptive therapy and vitamin D supplementation. At 0 (T0), 30 (T1), 60 (T2) and 90(T3) days, patients underwent MRI evaluation and clinical evaluation, using VAS for Pain and ODI.The paired t test was used to compare changes within groups at each follow-up versus baseline. The unpaired t test after ANOVA was used to compare the two groups at each follow-up.The association between VBME area, VAS score, ODI score was analyzed by the Pearson Correlation test. The tests were two-tailed with a confidence level of 5%. RESULTS: A significant VBME mean area, VAS and ODI scores reduction was recorded at 60- and 90-days follow-ups versus baseline. A positive correlation between VBME reduction and clinical symptoms improvement (VAS and ODI scores improvement) was found both in traumatic and osteoporotic VCFs. CONCLUSION: In benign A1 VCFs conservatively managed, VBME slowly decreases in the first 3 months of MRI follow-up. This VBME reduction is related to clinical symptoms improvement.