A CLINICAL PROFILE OF BACK PAIN AND DISABILITY IN PATIENTS WITH SPINAL OSTEOPOROSIS

This study investigated the pain and disability experienced by 85 cons ecutive postmenopausal Caucasian women, average age 64 years (range 50 -82), with spinal osteoporosis, referred to a specialist bone clinic. Symptoms were related to the numbers and severity of vertebral deformi ties, and degree of kyphosis. Persistent back pain was experienced by 54 (63%) in the lumbar spine and 53 (62%) in the thoracic spine. The s everity of thoracic but not lumbar back pain was significantly related by Kendall rank correlation to degree of kyphosis (R = 0.255, p < 0.0 1), numbers of collapsed vertebrae (R = 0.279, p < 0.01) and a summed score of the severity of collapse for all vertebrae (R = 0.253, p < 0. 01). The severity and duration of thoracic back pain was also signific antly related to numbers of collapsed vertebrae from T4-T8 alone. Slee p was disturbed in 60%, difficulty obtaining suitable clothes was foun d in 42% and difficulties with functional activities in 47%, although these were severe in only 10%. Significant associations were also foun d between scores of osteoporosis severity and sleep disturbance, diffi culties with clothes and many functional activities. We conclude that in patients with spinal osteoporosis coming to medical attention, asse ssment and management of pain, disability, sleep pattern and difficult ies with obtaining clothes are required for optimal care.