Asian Spine J.  2018 Jun;12(3):586-599. 10.4184/asj.2018.12.3.586.

What is the Current Evidence on Vertebral Body Osteonecrosis?: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopaedics, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino-IST, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy. dott.zanirato@gmail.com
  • 2IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi , Milano, Italy.

Abstract

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a clinical entity characterized by a pattern of cell death and complex process of bone resorption and formation. Studies related to ON have largely focused on certain anatomical sites; however, the evidence on vertebral body ON (VBON) is largely inconsistent and fragmented. The aim of this study was to clarify the pathophysiology, risk factors, imaging findings, and available treatment modalities for VBON. A systematic review of the relevant articles published in English was performed using PubMed, Embase, Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and CINAHL databases. A total of 81 articles were included in this study. Three main topics about VBON were identified: (1) pathophysiology and risk factors, (2) diagnosis, and (3) treatment. Forty-five studies were based on the pathophysiology, 52 on diagnosis, and 38 on the treatment options for VBON. The literature on VBON was limited and mainly focused on post-traumatic cases with a considerable overlap with nonunion and pseudoarthrosis.

Keyword

Bone necrosis; Spine; Vertebral body; Diagnosis; Treatment; Outcomes

MeSH Terms

Bone Resorption
Cell Death
Diagnosis
Osteonecrosis*
Pseudarthrosis
Risk Factors
Spine
Full Text Links
  • ASJ
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr