Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2008 , Vol 11, Issue 2
THE EFFECT OF SEVERE OSTEOPOROSIS ON POSTURAL DEFORMITIES AND PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS
1 Ankara Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon, ANKARA
2 Ankara Güven Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon ANKARA
Introduction: Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by increase in bone fragility and fracture risks. The most silent fractures are vertebral fractures which cause postural deformity. It has been previously shown that pulmonary function is signficantly diminished in patients with osteoporosis although these datas weren't based on the severity of OP. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between severe osteoporosis on postural deformities and pulmonary function tests in postmenopausal osteoporotic patients.

Materials and Method: Seventy female patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were enrolled in this study. Demographic, clinical and antrophometric datas were recorded during the study. Dorsal and lumbar spine lateral radiographs were used to investigate the existence of vertebral fractures and postural deformities. Bone mineral density were measured by using Dual Energy X Ray Absorbtiometry (DXA) at the lumbar spine (L1-L3 and L2-L4) and proximal femur. Pulmonary function tests were done by Sensor Medix Vmax 29.

Results: Seventy postmenopausal osteoporotic women were participated in our study. The mean age of the study group was 68±4.6 years and the mean duration of osteoporosis was 54.8±42.9 months. According to our results, newly diagnosed group, the normal kyphotic group and the lesser spinal deformity index group had the better PFTs and these differences were statistically different (p<0.05).

Conclusion: It is concluded that severity of osteoporosis, have a strong relationship with postural deformity. Postural deformity, muscle weakness and imbalance around the thoracic cage effects pulmonary function especially in the severe osteoporotic group. Although there were no symptoms of respiratory dysfunction in the daily living of these patients their lifestyle usually masks their respiratory dysfunction. Therefore, the pulmonary function evaluation should be included in the management of OP patients. Keywords : Osteoporosis, Kyphosis, Vertebral fractures, Pulmonary function tests