Researchers investigated the prevalence of undiagnosed osteoporosis in patients receiving transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, according to Medscape. Spine published the study.
They reported the number of cases using CT Hounsfield units, which estimates bone mineral density of the lumbar spine. The study involved 143 patients over the age of 50, undergoing TLIF at a single center by various surgeons. Of those patients, 128 had perioperative lumbar CT scans.
Here are four insights:
1. The study found a correlation between decreased Hounsfield units and lumbar bone mineral density less than 0.75 g/cm2.
2. Of the patients, 10 men and 15 women possessed Hounsfield unit values consistent with osteoporosis.
3. Of the patients with osteoporotic Hounsfield unit values, 64 percent had never undergone formal disease evaluation.
4. The researchers concluded, Hounsfield units "may be an alternative to screening preoperative dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan and can minimize costs and resource utilization."