An assessment system for evaluating the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture and its clinical application: A retrospective study of 381 cases

• An assessment system evaluating thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture was put forward.
• Clinical examination, X-ray films, CT and MRI assessment were performed.
• Different treatment methods were used according to the assessment results.
• The assessment system was suggested to be helpful in guiding clinical practice.

ObjectiveWe put forward an assessment system of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture (ASTLOF) evaluating the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture. This study was to investigate its efficacy in guiding clinical practice.MethodsThree hundred and eighty-one patients with thoracolumbar vertebral osteoporosis fracture admitted to the hospital from January 2010 to December 2011 were enrolled in the study. All cases were evaluated by ASTLOF including evaluation of morphological changes, MRI, bone mineral density and pain. The patients were treated with different methods according to ASTLOF score. All patients were followed up on a regular basis. The treatment results were assessed by VAS and ODI.ResultsAll patients were followed up with an average of 20.1 (range: 6–30) months. There were 91 cases of ASTLOF score < 4 points. Their average VAS score decreased from 8.0 ± 1.7 points to 2.0 ± 1.3 with statistical significance (P < 0.05) and the average ODI score decreased from 69.5 ± 2.8 to 38.1 ± 1.5 (P < 0.05). One hundred and thirty-two cases were with ASTLOF score = 4, with the average VAS score decreased from 8.2 ± 1.4 to 1.9 ± 1.2 (P < 0.05) and the average ODI score decreased from 71.5 ± 3.7 to 36.2 ± 2.5 (P < 0.05). There were 158 cases of ASTLOF score ≥ 5, with the VAS score decreased from 8.0 ± 1.7 to 2.0 ± 1.3 and the ODI score decreased from 69.5 ± 2.8 to 38.1 ± 1.5.ConclusionsASTLOF based on the severity of thoracolumbar osteoporotic fracture was suggested to be helpful in guiding clinical practice.