National Institutes of Health is funding Dr. Morgan’s study. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and Journal of Biomechanics will publish the study.
Here are seven takeaways:
1. About 25 percent of postmenopausal U.S. women experience spine fractures, according to American Family Physician.
2. Utilizing engineering methods that measure stress on bridges, Dr. Morgan is developing a system to identify patients at risk of spinal fracture.
3. Currently, physicians measure spinal fracture risk via a bone density scan which delivers a “T-score.” Based on the score, patients are labeled as normal, osteoporotic or osteopenic. Dr. Morgan argues many patients who experience spinal fractures are classified as “normal.”
4. Dr. Morgan first tackled the question of how spinal fractures occur. Calling on her engineering background, she squeezed a human vertebra until it broke while snapping pictures of the breaking vertebra with a micro-CT scan.
5. The researchers analyzed the data to ascertain when and why the vertebra lost its strength to hold a load.
6. Dr. Morgan found a vertebra’s weak spot occurred in the center of the top endplate, where the density proved higher. The team concluded the endplate failed first where it was most porous, with weak internal microstructure.
7. The researchers believe their study can aid physicians in identifying patients at risk of spinal fractures by looking for depressions of the top endplate.
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