Predicting Bone Marrow Edema and Fracture Age in Vertebral Fragility Fractures Using MDCT

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether CT features can predict bone marrow edema (BME) on MRI and fracture age in vertebral fragility fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 189 thoracolumbar compression fractures in 103 patients (14 men, 89 women; mean age, 76 years) imaged with both spine CT and MRI were retrospectively included. The presence and extent of BME were assessed on MRI to divide fractures into those with and without BME. The group with BME was then classified for subgroup analysis into fractures with extensive BME (comprising 50% or more of the vertebral body) and those with BME comprising less than 50% of the vertebral body. On CT, five features (presence of cortical or endplate fracture line, presence of trabecular fracture line, presence of condensation band, change in trabecular attenuation, and width of paravertebral soft-tissue change) were analyzed. RESULTS. All five CT findings were predominantly seen in fractures with BME (p < 0.001). Elevated trabecular attenuation, presence of a cortical or endplate fracture line, and paravertebral soft-tissue width showed excellent diagnostic indication for fractures with BME (ROC AUCs: 0.990, 0.976, and 0.950, respectively). In the subgroup with extensive BME, paravertebral soft-tissue width was significantly higher, whereas the change in trabecular attenuation was lower compared with those with BME comprising less than 50% of the vertebral body (p < 0.001). When BME was present, fracture age was not significantly different between the two subgroups, and only greater trabecular attenuation elevation was predictive of older fracture age on linear mixed model analyses (p < 0.001). Interobserver agreement was good for the trabecular fracture line factor and excellent for all other factors. CONCLUSION. CT features accurately correlate with the presence and extent of BME in vertebral fragility fractures. Elevation of trabecular attenuation was the only significant image predictor of fracture age.