Case Study Osteoporosis
A 44-year-old woman was brought to the regional hospital by her daughter. She reported that her mother had fallen 6 weeks previously and had been lame ever since but had resisted seeking medical attention. The patient was lucid and said that she had had no physical complaints before her fall, except periodic back pain that waxed and waned. On physical examination, the physician noted prominent kyphosis of her thoracic spine and exaggerated cervical lordosis. She was unable to bear weight on her right leg and had marked pain on palpation of her upper right thigh.
Radiographs revealed a nonaligned fracture of the neck of the right femur, which was surrounded by a large, exaggerated callus. There was generalized cortical thinning and radiographic lucency of her skeleton, as well as compression fractures of several vertebrae. The patient was sent to surgery, where the right femoral head was replaced with a prosthesis.
A DXA (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan subsequently showed a marked reduction in bone mineral density involving the opposite femur and spine.
Why are vertebrae preferentially affected in osteoporosis?
Responses must be based on various academic scholarly resources such as textbooks, articles, and journals in the last 4 years or current. Medscape, Up-to-Date, and Epocrates as supplemental resources are acceptable.
Why are vertebrae preferentially affected in osteoporosis?