Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Traumatology and Orthopaedics of Kazakhstan, cilt.76, sa.5, ss.96-102, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study aimed to investigate the association between spine-specific sarcopenia, assessed using magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the multifidus muscle, and the risk of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures in older adults. This retrospective study included 85 patients aged 60 years or older who underwent both lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging and bone mineral density measurement between January 2020 and 2025. Patients were assigned to fracture (n=43) or control (n=42) groups according to the presence of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Spine-specific sarcopenia was evaluated using the cross sectional area and fat infiltration of the multifidus and psoas muscles. The percentage of muscle fibers was calculated by subtracting the fat area from the total cross-sectional area. Statistical analyses compared demographic, radiological, and clinical parameters between groups. There were no significant differences between groups regarding age, sex, Body mass index, or psoas index. However, spinal T-scores were significantly lower in the fracture group. The cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle at L4–5 and L5–S1 levels was significantly higher in the fracture group. Notably, the percentage of muscle fibers of the multifidus muscle was significantly lower in the fracture group at both levels, indicating increased fat infiltration. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that reduced percentage of muscle fibers was independently associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, regardless of bone mineral density. Reduced muscle fiber percentage and increased fat infiltration in the multifidus muscle are significant risk factors for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures independent of bone mineral density. These findings highlight the importance of assessing paraspinal muscle quality for the evaluation and management of osteoporotic fracture risk in the elderly.