Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is a rare type of premenopausal osteoporosis, typically occurring during the third trimester of pregnancy and the early postpartum lactation period. This report presents a case involving severe multiple vertebral fractures due to PLO with low bone mineral density (BMD) and heightened bone turnover. A 39-year-old primiparous Japanese woman reported low back pain (LBP) starting at 28 weeks of pregnancy. The pain temporarily improved after delivery, although the LBP recurred and worsened 2 months into breastfeeding. Thereafter, the patient visited the Obstetrics and Orthopedic departments. Plain radiographs of the thoracic and lumbar spine showed loss of vertebral body height at the T4-12 and L1-3,5 vertebrae, leading to a diagnosis of 13 fractured vertebrae. BMD and serum bone turnover markers revealed low bone density and heightened bone turnover. In the absence of any identified alternative cause of secondary osteoporosis, the diagnosis was severe PLO with 13 vertebral fractures related to pregnancy and lactation. After treatment with bisphosphonates and an active vitamin D analog, the patient exhibited an increased BMD and normalization of bone turnover and resumed regular daily activities. Although the optimal PLO treatment strategy remains uncertain, bisphosphonates are an option; however, bisphosphonates can potentially affect the fetus through placental transfer. Therefore, careful consideration is required for patients planning pregnancy. Despite bisphosphonates\' widespread use and cost-effectiveness, selecting PLO medications involves multiple factors, necessitating further research.

UNASSIGNED: Segmental spinal deformity results from vertebral compression fracture (VCF) and progressive collapse of the fractured vertebral body (VB). The VB stenting (VBS) systemⓇ comprises a balloon-assisted, expandable, intrasomatic, metal stent that helps maintain the restored VB during balloon removal and cement injection, which minimizes cement leakage. We performed a prospective, multicenter, clinical trial of the VBS system in Japanese patients with acute VCF owing to primary osteoporosis.
UNASSIGNED: Herein, 88 patients, 25 men and 63 women aged 77.4±8.3 years, with low back pain, numerical rating scale (NRS) score of ≥4, and mean VB compression percentage (VBCP) of <60% were enrolled. The primary endpoints were the VBCP restoration rate and reduction in low back pain 1 month and 7 days after VBS surgery, respectively. Secondary endpoints included changes in VBCP, NRS pain score, Beck index, kyphosis angle, and quality of life according to the short form 36 (v2) score. Safety was assessed as adverse events, device malfunctions, and new vertebral fractures.
UNASSIGNED: Overall, 70 patients completed the study. VBS surgery increased the restoration rates of anterior and midline VBCP by 31.7%±26.5% (lower 95% confidence intervals (CI): 26.8) and 31.8%±24.6% (lower 95% CI: 27.2), respectively, and the reduction in NRS pain score was -4.5±2.4 (upper 95% CI: -4.0). As these changes were greater than the predetermined primary endpoint values (20% for VBCP and -2 for NRS score), they were judged clinically significant; these changes were maintained throughout the 12-month follow-up (p<0.001). Likewise, significant improvement was observed in the Beck index, kyphosis angle, and quality of life score, which were maintained throughout the follow-up. There were three serious adverse events. New fractures occurred in 12 patients-all in the adjacent VB.
UNASSIGNED: VBS surgery effectively restored the collapsed VB, relieved low back pain, and was tolerable in patients with acute osteoporotic VB fracture.

Vertebral fractures (VFs) are the most common osteoporotic fractures in the general population, and they have been associated with high mortality, decreased quality of life, and high risk of subsequent fractures, especially when recent, multiple, or severe. Currently, VF diagnosis and classification determine fracture risk and the most appropriate anti-osteoporotic treatment. However, VFs are clearly underdiagnosed, especially in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and CKD-associated osteoporosis has been disregarded until recently. VFs are associated with higher morbidity and mortality, and their prevalence and incidence differ depending on the grade of renal dysfunction (CKD G1-G5) and/or the type of renal replacement therapy (dialysis or transplantation). In addition to classical risk factors [such as higher age, female sex, reduced bone mineral density, diabetes and steroid use], various other factors have been associated with an increased risk of VFs in CKD, including CKD grade, haemodialysis vintage, time since renal transplantation, low or high intact parathyroid hormone and phosphate levels, and/or vitamin D and K1 deficiencies. Importantly, several clinical societies have recently modified their algorithms according to the fracture risk classification (including the presence of VFs) and determined the most appropriate anti-osteoporotic treatment for the general population. However, there are no specific guidelines addressing this topic in patients with CKD despite an important paradigm shift regarding the prognostic value of bone mineral density in 2017 after the publication of the CKD-Mineral and Bone Disorder Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines. A proactive attitude towards diagnosis, treatment, and research is proposed to avoid therapeutic nihilism.

This article reviews bone metabolism, bone mass, and bone structure changes expected during and after pregnancy and lactation, as well as the condition of pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO)-a presentation with fragility fracture(s) in the context of these physiologic changes. Clinical implications of physiologic bone changes will be addressed, as will specific management considerations that apply to premenopausal women with PLO.

The aim of this paper is to present a unique, to the best of our knowledge, case of a patient with a fracture of the first lumbar vertebra (L1), which occurred through a pre-existing Schmorl\'s node (SN), with histopathological characteristics mimicking a low-grade chondrosarcoma that initially led to a false diagnosis. A 54-year-old woman tripped and fell to the ground, sustaining a fracture of the L1 vertebral body. She was treated conservatively with gradual mobilization using a thoracolumbar brace for six weeks. Due to persistent pain and her inability to achieve full mobilization, she was offered vertebral kyphoplasty. During the same operative session and just before the kyphoplasty, she underwent a core-needle biopsy of the affected area. Following her operation, she reported a gradual, yet quick and full remission of her symptoms. The pathology report indicated findings consistent with a low to mid-grade chondrosarcoma. A re-evaluation of the specimen by a different pathologist confirmed the diagnosis of low-grade chondrosarcoma. Subsequently, she underwent full oncological staging, which was negative for metastases. Additional imaging studies failed to show signs of local disease progression. Due to the discordance between the pathology reports and the imaging and clinical findings, her case was referred to our specialized center for spinal tumor surgery. A new pathological re-evaluation of the biopsy samples was performed, and the diagnosis of low-grade chondrosarcoma was once again confirmed. However, during the multidisciplinary tumor (MDT) meeting that followed, and after careful evaluation of subsequent imaging studies that showed signs of local improvement and due to the complete lack of symptoms, the histopathological findings were re-evaluated and attributed to the fracture occurring through a pre-existing SN penetrating the cancellous bone of the vertebra. This complex situation contributed to histopathological findings consistent with a well-differentiated chondrosarcoma. The patient remains symptom-free 10 months following her operation and has fully returned to her previous activities. Our unique case highlights the importance of an MDT meeting when evaluating patients with musculoskeletal tumors and emphasizes the need for increased awareness when clinical findings and imaging studies are in discordance with histopathology reports.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the prognostic impact of vertebral fractures (VFs) on the survival of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).
METHODS: We included 299 patients with stage I-III CRC who had undergone elective surgery. The patients were divided into the VF group (n=94) and non-VF group (n=205). VFs were assessed using sagittal computed tomography image reconstruction (Th11-L5) performed preoperatively. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed.
RESULTS: The VF group had lower 5-year DFS and OS rates compared to the non-VF group (both, p<0.001). The independent predictors of DFS were carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) ≥37.0 ng/ml, T3/T4 disease, stage III CRC, osteopenia, and VF; for OS, CA19-9 ≥37.0 ng/ml, stage III, osteopenia, and VF. VF, compared with osteopenia, was a more significant prognostic factor for DFS and OS in patients with stage I+ II CRC (both, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative VF was associated with worse DFS and OS following CRC resection.

METHODS: Systematic review.
OBJECTIVE: Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) and degenerative spine conditions are age-related and associated with higher morbidity and mortality and greater health care costs. The relationship between OVFs and prevalent spine degeneration is rarely reported. The aim of this study was to systematically review current literature on the influence of preexisting degenerative spine conditions in patients with OVFs on the occurrence of complications during and after treatment.
METHODS: A systematic literature review adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed using Web of Science and MEDLINE. We considered English and German articles published from January 1990 to December 2022. The inclusion criteria were patients with OVFs and preexisting spinal degeneration with complications such as subsequent fractures, deformity, implant failure and surgical and general complications. The included studies were controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series.
RESULTS: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria (two prospective studies, seven retrospective studies and one case series). These were divided into two groups: studies on OVFs in patients with coexisting degenerative spine conditions (n = 5) and studies on OVFs following surgical treatment for degenerative spine conditions (n = 5). Three studies reported more complications in patients with OVFs and severe degeneration. One study stated the opposite. One study did not find any correlation. The remaining studies described complications narratively. Subsequent fractures were the most frequent complications.
CONCLUSIONS: OVFs in patients with preexisting spinal degeneration seem to cause more complications. In addition to subsequent fractures, other complications have rarely been examined. The presence of degenerative changes or undergoing surgical correction may increase the risk of subsequent fractures.

A 74-year-old male patient was referred with signs of sepsis 5 days after having been diagnosed with a rib fracture following a fall out of bed. Novel hypodensities were visible on thoracic X‑rays and laboratory tests revealed elevated inflammatory parameters. Subsequently performed thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed burst fracture of the 3rd thoracic vertebra, posttraumatic esophageal rupture at the same level and mediastinitis. Furthermore, marked degenerative changes of the spinal column (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis) were present. The patient underwent emergency thoracotomy and esophagectomy. Gastric pull-up with esophagogastrostomy was postponed for 3 days. After 14 days on the intensive care unit (ICU) and 12 days of i.v. antibiotics, the patient was transferred to the general ward and 7 weeks after trauma the patient was infection-free without difficulties in swallowing. Up to the latest follow-up 41 months following injury, several endoscopic dilations with a bougie due to constrictions at the anastomosis have been performed. Similar to previous cases in the literature, esophageal injury was diagnosed delayed, with the patient already having developed severe complications. This extremely seldom injury should be suspected in young patients following high-energy trauma, but also in older patients after low-energy trauma but known degenerative changes of the vertebral column.

BACKGROUND: This study compared the 2020 incidence of fragility fractures in Sado City with those from 2004 to 2015.
METHODS: Data from patients aged ≥ 60 years living in Sado City with fragility fractures in the hip, vertebral, distal radius, and proximal humerus between January 1 and December 31, 2020, were collected. We examined the number and incidence of four types of osteoporotic fractures in the older population aged ≥ 60 years living in Sado City in 2020. We compared the results with those of the 2004, 2010, and 2015 surveys, examining the temporal change and trend in the incidence of the four fracture types in this population. We investigated the use rate of anti-osteoporotic medications and the relationship between their administration and the occurrence of fragility fractures.
RESULTS: The age-specific incidence of hip fractures slightly decreased from 2015. However, the incidence of the other three fractures slightly increased, although the difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of hip fractures markedly increased in the 80 s. In 2020, the percentage of patients taking anti-osteoporotic agents before the occurrence of fractures decreased to 12.4% from 14.5% in 2015; it increased from 4% in 2004 to 7.6% in 2010.
CONCLUSIONS: The 2020 incidence of the four fractures did not decrease, and the percentage of patients receiving anti-osteoporotic agents did not increase. A higher frequency of osteoporosis treatment is necessary to reduce the incidence of fragility fractures. We recommend using anti-osteoporotic agents to prevent hip fractures among individuals in their mid-70 s and above.

Osteoporosis weakens the structural strength of bone to such an extent that normal daily activity may exceed the capacity of the vertebra to bear this load. Vertebral fracture and deformity is a hallmark of osteoporosis. The detriment of trabecular bone properties alone cannot explain the occurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fracture. The ability of the spine to bear and resist loads depends on the structural capacity of the vertebrae, but also on loading conditions arising from activities of daily living or low-energy trauma. This review describes the mechanical properties of the vertebral bone, the structural load-bearing capacity of the various elements forming the spine, the neuromuscular control of the trunk, as well as the biomechanics of the loads to which the spine is subjected in relation to the presence of osteoporosis and the risk of vertebral fracture. A better understanding of biomechanical factors may help to explain both the high incidence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures and their mechanism of production. Consideration of these issues may be important in the development of prevention and management strategies.