Osteoporosis is the most common generalized skeleta l disease, which lays a significant socioeconomic burden to Korea. The early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis are of the great interest to minimize the economic consequence. We have studied vertebral BMD and bone scan of 30 patients with osteoporotic compression fractures. The purpose of this study was to in vestigate the effect of osteoporotic compression fracture on bone mineral density(BMD). We have measured the vertebral heights, vertebral bone mineral density, and bone scan counts of vertebral bodies on osteoporotic patients. Vertebral BMD was measured from T12 to L4 using dual photon absorptiometry. Anterior(Ha), middle(Hm), and posterior(Hp) height of vertebrae were measured from T12 to L4, and the spinal deformity indices(Ha/Hp, Hm/Hp, and Hp/Hi ratios) were calculated. The bone scan counts were measured from T12 to L4, and bone scan ratios were calculated. The BMD of fractured vertebrae was significantly higher than that of non-fractured vertebrae. The spinal deformity indices were not correlated to the BMD of fractured vertebrae. The bone scan ratio was correlated to the BMD of fractured vertebrae. This study suggests that the increased BMD observed in fractured vertebrae is related to metabolic effect of compression fractures rather than mechanical effect.
