Study design: We performed a retrospective study of spinal roentgenograms of a large cohort of patients suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of vertebral pars defects (spondylolysis) in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta.
Summary of background data: Patients suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta are known to be prone to pathologic fractures. Pathologic fractures due to microtraumas, repetitive activities, and posture acting together on a congenitally weakened pars interarticularis may lead to vertebral pars defects. The prevalence of vertebral pars defects in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta has never been studied before to our knowledge.
Methods: We performed a retrospective study of posterior-anterior and lateral, standing, roentgenograms of the spine of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta for the occurrence of vertebral pars interarticularis defects.
Results: The patients (5.3%) in our series showed vertebral pars defects, this is not significantly different from the prevalence of vertebral pars defects in the general population.
Conclusion: 5.3% of the patients with osteogenesis imperfecta showed vertebral pars defects, this does not differ significantly from the occurrence in the general population.