REVIEW  OSTEOPOROTIC SPINE FRACTURES: WFNS SPINE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS Open access

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences 2022 August;66(4):300-10

DOI: 10.23736/S0390-5616.22.05641-7

Copyright © 2022 THE AUTHORS

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language: English

Endocrine assessment, chemotherapy, nonsurgical treatment, and rehabilitation for osteoporotic spine fractures: WFNS spine committee recommendations

Se-Hoon KIM ¹ ✉, Prem S. RAMANI ², Vidhya R. JAHAGIRDAR ³, Ben ROITBERG ⁴, Mehmet ZILELI ⁵

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Medical Center, Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea; ² Department of Neuro-Spinal Surgery, Lilavati Hospital and Research Center, Mumbai, India; ³ Unit of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH), Coimbatore, India; ⁴ Department of Neurological Surgery, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; ⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: We reviewed the endocrine assessment, chemotherapy, and rehabilitation of the osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) to create recommendations for the disease.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A PubMed and Medline search between 2011 and 2021 was conducted using key words. Case reports, experimental studies, papers other than the English language, and unrelated studies were excluded. Up-to-date information on endocrine assessment, medical and nonsurgical treatment, and rehabilitation for osteoporotic spine fractures were reviewed, and statements were produced to reach a consensus in two separate virtual consensus meetings of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Spine Committee. The statements were voted and achieved a positive or negative consensus using Delphi method.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Endocrine assessment of osteoporosis is necessary if it is diagnosed in premenopausal women or men less than 50 years of age. Dual X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA) alone may not be predictive of fracture. Endocrine causes of osteoporosis must also be evaluated if the Z-score ≤-2.0. In case of a vertebral fracture in postmenopausal women and men aged 50 years and above, pharmacologic treatment for osteoporosis must be started. Strengthening exercise, balance and gait training, and assistive devices are recommended to prevent and reduce falls in the elderly. In addition, rehabilitation must be a part of the overall treatment to help patients return to function.
CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical management helps treat OVF. Although there is weak evidence on the type of medical treatment and usage of braces, bed rest, and other measures, current literature supports endocrinological management, medical treatment, and rehabilitation after osteoporotic vertebral fractures.

KEY WORDS: Osteoporosis; Spinal fractures; Endocrinology; Braces; Rehabilitation