Osteoporosis in the Sites of Attachment of the Iliac-Lumbar Ligaments: is it a Manifestation of Age-Associated Changes or a Consequence of Functional Overload?

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the nature of histomorphometric changes in bone tissue within the area of the entheses of the ileo-lumbar ligaments in different age periods. Material and methods. The ileo-lumbar ligaments, fragments of bone tissue from the attachment sites of the named ligaments, fragments of bone tissue from the body L_IV obtained at autopsies of 20 men (the average age was 64.7±8.7) and 15 women (the average age was 54.5±9.5). Results. The work has revealed a close relationship between the indicators that determine the severity of osteoporosis, and indicators reflecting the intensity of dystrophic changes of the ileo-lumbar ligaments (R = -0.60-0.70 among men and R = -0.77-0.78 among women). Statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference between the severity of osteoporosis in the L_IV body (age-dependent changes) and the severity of osteoporosis in the area of the enthuses of the iliac-lumbar ligament was found. Conclusion. Local osteoporosis in the entheses of the ligaments is above all a sign of functional overload of the ileo-lumbar ligament. Osteoporosis within the area of the entheses of the ileo-lumbar ligaments may indicate the presence of dystrophic changes.