Preoperative MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores assessment in patients with severe scoliosis

To evaluate the correlation between vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scores and quantitative computer tomography (QCT) based bone mineral density BMD in patients with severe scoliosis, and the correlation between spinal BMD and severity of deformity. We selected patients with severe scoliosis from January 2022 to December 2023 in our hospital. Spinal parameters including main Cobb angle, kyphosis, apical vertebrae evaluated. The BMD was evaluated by QCT technique and VBQ scores was also evaluated. The correlation between the VBQ score and QCT was analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze factors independently related to osteoporosis. 68 patients were evaluated in this study. The overall mean age was 21.7±7.9 years. The mean Cobb angle was 135±20 degree, and the mean angle of kyphosis was 125±41 degree. There was a total of 16 (23.5%) patients with osteoporosis according to QCT. The statistically differences in QCT and VBQ-score were found between Non-osteoporosis group and osteoporosis group. Although the mean age, Cobb angle degree, and kyphosis degree in osteoporosis group were greater than in Non-osteoporosis group, but there were no statistically differences. The VBQ was significantly related with QCT. The model revealed that the VBQ-score could independently associated with osteoporosis in patients with severe scoliosis. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in severe scoliosis was 23.5%. The VBQ-scores had a moderate to strong negative linear correlation with QCT-based BMD. The VBQ scores had a moderate diagnostic ability to verify patients with or without osteoporotic BMD in severe scoliosis.