Biomechanical comparison of fusionless growth modulation corrective techniques in pediatric scoliosis

Fusionless growth-sparing implants for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) attempt to manipulate vertebral growth to restore spinal alignment. This study critically explores different implants utilizing a human spine scoliotic finite element model (FEM). Stainless steel (SS) and shape memory alloy (SMA) staples and flexible tethers were modeled and alternatively integrated around the apex of the convexity of the scoliotic model. Stress profiles over vertebral growth plates were obtained. Two years of growth was simulated with non-instrumented and instrumented models, as curvature changes were quantified. Apical asymmetrical stresses in non-instrumented and instrumented scoliotic models with SS staple, flexible tether, and SMA staple were 0.48, 0.48, 0.23, and 0.33 MPa, respectively. Patient data and non-instrumented model progressed from 28° to 62° of thoracic Cobb angle over 2 years. Simulated projected long-term thoracic Cobb angles of instrumented models are 31° with SS staple, 31° with flexible tether, and 34° with SMA staple. Initial implant compression achieved during instrumentation provided a significant influence on initial and long-term spinal profiles. The developed FEM provides an effective platform with which to explore, critique, and enhance fusionless growth-sparing techniques.     

Convolutional Neural Network to Segment Laminae on 3D Ultrasound Spinal Images to Assist Cobb Angle Measurement

A recent innovation in scoliosis monitoring is the use of ultrasonography, which provides true 3D information in one scan and does not emit ionizing radiation. Measuring the severity of scoliosis on ultrasonographs requires identifying lamina pairs on the most tilted vertebrae, which is difficult and time-consuming. To expedite and automate measurement steps, this paper detailed an automatic convolutional neural network-based algorithm for identifying the laminae on 3D ultrasonographs. The predicted laminae were manually paired to measure the lateral spinal curvature on the coronal view, called the Cobb angle. In total, 130 spinal ultrasonographs of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis recruited from a scoliosis clinic were selected, with 70 for training and 60 for testing. Data augmentation increased the effective training set size to 140 ultrasonographs. Semi-automatic Cobb measurements were compared to manual measurements on the same ultrasonographs. The semi-automatic measurements demonstrated good inter-method reliability (ICC_3,1 = 0.87) and performed better on thoracic (ICC_3,1 = 0.91) than lumbar curves (ICC_3,1 = 0.81). The mean absolute difference and standard deviation between semi-automatic and manual was 3.6° ± 3.0°. In conclusion, the semi-automatic method to measure the Cobb angle on ultrasonographs is feasible and accurate. This is the first algorithm that automates steps of Cobb angle measurement on ultrasonographs.

     

A comparison of four techniques to measure anterior and posterior vertebral body heights and sagittal plane wedge angles in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional (3D) spinal deformity of unknown aetiology. Increased growth of the anterior part of the vertebrae known as anterior overgrowth has been proposed as a potential driver for AIS initiation and progression. To date, there has been no objective evaluation of the 3D measurement techniques used to identify this phenomenon and the majority of previous studies use 2D planar assessments which contain inherent projection errors due to the vertebral rotation which is part of the AIS deformity. In this study, vertebral body (VB) heights and wedge angles were measured in a test group of AIS patients and healthy controls using four different image analysis and measurement techniques. Significant differences were seen between the techniques in terms of VB heights and VB wedge angles. The low variability, and the fact that the rotation and tilt of the deformed VBs are taken into account, suggests that the proposed technique using the full 3D orientation of the vertebrae is the most reliable method to measure anterior and posterior VB heights and sagittal plane wedge angles in 3D image data sets. These results have relevance for future investigations that aim to quantify anterior overgrowth in AIS patients for comparison with healthy controls.     

经椎弓根截骨联合头尾骨水泥强化椎弓根螺钉固定治疗陈旧性骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折伴后凸畸形

目的观察后路短缩截骨联合椎弓根螺钉头尾侧骨水泥强化固定治疗骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折继发的陈旧性胸腰椎后凸畸形的临床疗效。方法选择2010年1月～2016年6月以来本院采用后路截骨矫形手术治疗骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折继发陈旧性胸腰椎后凸畸形患者12例。其中,男2例,女10例;年龄59～72岁,平均66.3岁。采用后路经后凸顶点短缩截骨闭合矫形术。观察手术前后的后凸Cobb角、腰椎前凸角(lumbar lordosis,LL)、脊柱矢状位平衡(sagittal vertical axis,SVA)改善距离的变化。通过独立人员严格随访,记录术前及末次随访JOA评分、VAS评分和Oswestry功能障碍评分(ODI),记录手术前后的Frankel分级系统分级情况。结果手术前后凸角度平均38.9°±6.2°,腰椎前凸角平均35.9°±5.8°,脊柱SVA平均(62.4±11.1)mm。随访时间平均29个月,末次随访后凸角度平均11.7°±5.7°,平均改善率69.92%;腰椎前凸角平均25.7°±10.5°,平均改善率28.41%;脊柱SVA平均(14.6±10.5)mm,平均改善率81.25%。术前12例神经损害患者Frankel分级为10例D级、2例C级,术后提高至10例E级、2例D级。腰痛VAS评分由术前平均7.8分降至术后平均2.1分、JOA评分由术前平均为13.6分增加到术后21.2分、ODI评分由术前平均为54.8%降至术后的30.1%,相比术前差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论后路截骨联合椎弓根螺钉头尾侧骨水泥强化固定治疗陈旧性骨质疏松椎体压缩骨折继发胸腰椎后凸畸形,明显改善后凸畸形,能有效恢复脊柱矢状位平衡,神经功能明显改善。     

Biomechanical modelling of growth modulation following rib shortening or lengthening in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

A biomechanical model was developed to evaluate the long-term correction resulting from rib shortening or lengthening in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). A finite element model of the trunk, personalised to the geometry of a scoliotic patient, was used to simulate rib surgery. Stress relaxation of ligaments following surgery was integrated into the model, as well as longitudinal growth of vertebral bodies and ribs and its modulation due to mechanical stresses. Simulations were performed in an iterative fashion over 24 months. A concave side rib shortening, inducing load patterns on the vertebral end-plates that could act against the scoliosis progression, was tested. A fractional factorial experimental design of 16 runs documented the effects of six modelling parameters. Wedging of the apical vertebra in the frontal plane decreased from 5.2° initially to a mean value of 3.8° after 24 months. The wedging decrease in the thoracic apical region was reflected by changes in the spine curvature, with a Cobb angle decrease from 46° to 44° immediately after the surgery and to a mean of 41° after 24 months. However, both rib hump and vertebral axial rotation increased, on average, by 4° at the curve apex. The most significant parameters were the growth sensitivity to stress in ribs and vertebrae and the rate of stress relaxation of intercostal ligaments. The results confirmed the potential of long-term correction of spinal curvature resulting from the rib shortening on the concavity. This modelling approach could be used for further design of less invasive surgery, taking into account residual growth, for scoliosis correction.     

青少年特发性脊柱侧弯严重程度与全脊柱活动度的相关性分析

目的：利用脊柱形态测量仪SpinalMouse对患者全脊柱活动度进行量化测量,将其结果分别与主弯Cobb角、顶椎旋转度和支具佩戴时间进行相关性分析,确定如何设计针对性的医疗体操训练。方法：选取2015年1月至2016年5月于我中心接受康复治疗的48例AIS患者作为研究对象,男性8例、女性40例。平均年龄(13.46±2.00)岁;平均站立位主弯Cobb角24.29°±9.48°;Risser征平均2.21°±1.80°;主弯顶椎旋转度平均1.08°±0.77°;支具佩戴时间平均(17.54±21.36)个月。利用SpinalMouse为患者进行脊柱前屈、后伸及左右侧屈活动度的测量。结果：主弯Cobb角、主弯顶椎椎体旋转度、支具佩戴时间均与站立位侧屈活动度呈负相关(P<0.01),但均与站立位前屈及后伸活动度无明显相关性(P>0.05)。结论：主弯Cobb角、椎体旋转度的严重程度以及长时间佩戴支具对患者全脊柱侧屈活动度有影响,而对屈伸活动度无明显影响。     

Gait modification with subject-specific foot progression angle in people with moderate knee osteoarthritis: Investigation of knee adduction moment and muscle activity

BackgroundSubject-specific foot progression angle (SSFPA) as a personalized gait modification is a novel approach to specifically reducing knee adduction.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of gait modification with SSFPA on the knee adduction moment and muscle activity in people with moderate knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsIn this clinical trial, nineteen volunteers with moderate KOA were instructed to walk in four different foot progression angle conditions (5° toe-out, 10° toe-out, 5° toe-in, and 10° toe-in) to determine SSFPA that caused the greatest reduction in the greater peak of the knee adduction moment (PKAM). Immediately and after 30 minutes of gait modification with SSFPA, peak root means square (PRMS) and medial and lateral co-contraction index (CCI) were evaluated in the knee muscles.ResultWalking with 10° toe-in showed the most reduction in the greater PKAM (17.52 ± 15.39%) compared to 5° toe-in (7.1 ± 19.14%), 10° toe-out (1.26 ± 23.13%), and 5° toe-out (7.64 ± 16.71%). As the immediate effect, walking with SSFPA caused a 20.71 ± 12.07% reduction in the greater PKAM than the basic FPA (p < 0.001). After 30 minutes of gait retraining, the greater PKAM decreased by 10.36 ± 26.24%, but this reduction was not significant (p = 0.17). In addition, PRMS of lateral gastrocnemius increased (p = 0.04), and lateral CCI increased 10.72% during late stance (p = 0.04).ConclusionOur findings suggest the immediate effect of gait modification with SSFPA on decreasing the knee adduction moment. After gait retraining with SSFPA, the increase of lateral muscle co-contraction may enhance lateral knee muscle co-activity to unload the medial knee compartment.Clinical Trial Register Number: IRCT20101017004952N8.     

Demonstration of asymmetric muscle perfusion of the back after exercise in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MRI

The purpose of this work was to quantify muscular perfusion patterns of back muscles after exercise in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) using intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) MR perfusion imaging. The paraspinal muscles of eight patients with AIS (Cobb angle 35 ± 10°, range [25‐47°]) and nine healthy volunteers were scanned with a 1.5 T MRI, at rest and after performing a symmetric back muscle exercise on a Roman chair. An IVIM sequence with 16 b‐values from 0 to 900 s/mm² was acquired, and the IVIM bi‐exponential signal equation model was fitted in two steps. Perfusion asymmetries were evaluated using the blood flow related IVIM fD* parameter in regions of interest placed within the paraspinal muscles. Statistical significance was assessed using a Student t‐test. The observed perfusion pattern after performing a Roman chair muscle exercise differed consistently in patients with AIS compared with healthy normal volunteers, and consisted of an asymmetrical increase in IVIM fD* [10^?3 mm²/s] above the lumbar convexity from 6.5 ± 5.8 to 28.8 ± 26.8 (p < 0.005), with no increase in the concavity (decrease from 6.5 ± 10.0 to 3.2 ± 1.5 (p = 0.19)), compared with a bilateral symmetric increase in the healthy volunteers (right, increase from 3.3 ± 2.1 to 10.1 ± 4.6 (p < 0.05); left, 6.7 ± 10.7 to 13.3 ± 7.0 (p < 0.05)). In conclusion, patients with AIS exhibit significant asymmetric muscle perfusion over the convexity of the scoliotic curvature after Roman chair exercise.     

Segmental patterns of sagittal spinal curvatures in children screened for scoliosis: Kyphotic angulation at the thoracolumbar region and the mortice joint

This paper reports a segmental analysis of the lateral spinal radiographs of 37 children referred to hospital in a school screening study of 4,890 school children aged 12–13 years. On each lateral radiograph a line was drawn along the posterior surface of each vertebral body from T5-L5 and the angle of this line from the vertical was recorded. After measuring the scoliosis curve (Cobb) angle and using conventional criteria for diagnosis, three groups of patients are defined, namely, 1) a control group (average scoliosis curve angle (Cobb) of 5°, n = 14), 2) a group with lumbar curves (average Cobb angle 21°, n = 7), and 3) a group with thoracic curves (average Cobb angle 19 degrees, n = 10). Individual lateral spinal profiles are also analyzed. The findings show: (1) In the control group, there are different degrees of vertical backward tilt (declivity) from T7–L3, with a maximum tilt at T12 (mean 26°). The most vertical vertebrae are T6 and L4, with forward tilting (proclivity) at each of (T5 and L5.2) In the lumbar curve group, the segmental sagittal tilt is not significantly different from that in the control group. The mean declivity at T12 is 25°. (3) In the thoracic curve group, the segmental sagittal tilt is significantly less than that in the control group at each of T10–L1. The mean declivity at T12 is 17°. A more vertical T12 is associated with a larger Cobb angle. (4) The individual sagittal spinal profiles of the thoracic curve group (but no other group) show lordosis in the region of the lateral spinal curve (scoliosis) and a kyphotic angulation at an average of three vertebrae below the apical vertebrae of the scoliosis curve. (5) It is suggested that as a thoracic lordoscoliosis develops, the appearance of a kyphotic angulation in the thoracolumbar and upper lumbar spine is determined by the compressibility of each disc in relation to the length of the articular processes at the corresponding level. Where the combination of disc weakness to facet length is most adverse, forward flexion occurs, as in a spinal fracture, to produce the kyphotic angulation. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Estimation of 3D location and orientation of human vertebral facet joints from standing digital radiographs

This study provides a biplanar radiographic reconstruction method of volumes of interest to evaluate the location, dimensions and orientation of human facet joints. Visibility of facet anatomical landmarks and areas of interest was evaluated on digital radiographs of 20 idiopathic scoliotic adolescents. Areas of interest have provided the most reliable evaluation of facet joints on postero-anterior and lateral digital radiographs. Volumes of interest of a thoracic and lumbar spinal segment (T1 to L3) were computed using the proposed biplanar 3D reconstruction method and compared with serial tomographic reconstructed models. Differences of 1.5±0.7 mm in 3D location and 1.8±1.2° in sagittal orientation of volumes of interest were observed between both representations. This in vivo geometric information on human vertebral facet joints will help us to understand their role in spinal disorders and will provide important data for personalised biomechanical simulations.     

Morphological patterns of the rib cage and lung in the healthy and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The morphology of the rib cage affects both the biomechanics of the upper body's musculoskeletal structure and the respiratory mechanics. This becomes particularly important when evaluating skeletal deformities, as in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of this study was to identify morphological characteristics of the rib cage in relation to the lung in patients with non-deformed and scoliotic spines. Computed tomography data of 40 patients without any visible spinal abnormalities (healthy group) and 21 patients with AIS were obtained retrospectively. All bony structures as well as the right and left lung were reconstructed using image segmentation. Morphological parameters were calculated based on the distances between characteristic morphological landmarks. These parameters included the rib position, length, and area, the rib cage depth and width, and the rib inclination angle on either side, as well as the spinal height and length. Furthermore, we determined the left and right lung volumes, and the area of contact between the rib cage and lung. Differences between healthy and scoliotic spines were statistically analysed using the t-test for unpaired data. The rib cage of the AIS group was significantly deformed in the dorso-ventral and medio-lateral directions. The anatomical proximity of the lung to the ribs was nearly symmetrical in the healthy group. By contrast, within the AIS group, the lung covered a significantly greater area on the left side of the rib cage at large thoracic deformities. Within the levels T1–T6, no significant difference in the rib length, depth to width relationship, or area was observed between the healthy and AIS groups. Inferior to the lung (T7–T12), these parameters exhibited greater variability. The ratio between the width of the rib cage at T6 and the thoracic spinal height (T1–T12) was significantly increased within the thoracic AIS group (1.1 ± 0.08) compared with the healthy group (1.0 ± 0.05). No statistical differences were found between the lung volumes among all the groups. While the rib cage was frequently strongly deformed in the AIS group, the lung and its surrounding ribs appeared to be normally developed. The observed rib hump in AIS appeared to be formed particularly by a more ventral position of the ribs on the concave side. Furthermore, the rib cage width to spinal height ratio suggested that the spinal height of the thoracic AIS-spine is reduced. This indicates that the spine would gain its growth-related height after correcting the spinal deformity. These are the important aspects to consider in the aetiology research and orthopaedic treatment of AIS.     

椎弓根螺钉和椎板钩选择性融合治疗胸椎青少年特发性脊柱侧弯的差异

背景：既往的文献多报道用椎板钩或联合椎弓根螺钉治疗特发性脊柱侧弯或讨论融合节段的选择。 目的：比较椎弓根螺钉和椎板钩治疗青少年特发性脊柱侧弯临床疗效的差异,并行影像学评价。 方法：选择66例连续观察的青少年特发性脊柱侧弯(胸段主弯、腰段代偿弯)患者,均行后路内固定融合,末端融合到T12或L1椎体。其中32例行椎板钩内固定,34例行椎弓根螺钉内固定,内固定后最少随访2年。 结果与结论：椎弓根螺钉组患者内固定后胸段Cobb角矫正程度及腰段Cobb角自发矫正程度明显大于椎板钩组(P < 0.001)。椎板钩组内固定后13例患者冠状面朝左侧失代偿大于20 mm(参照C7铅垂线),而椎弓根内固定组仅4例,差异有显著性意义(P < 0.005)。两组患者均无并发症发生。提示后路选择性融合治疗特发性脊柱侧弯(胸段主弯、腰段代偿弯),与椎板钩相比,椎弓根螺钉有更好的矫正效果且内固定后冠状面失代偿发生率低。     

Localization of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) mRNA in the grey monkey locus coeruleus and adrenal medulla

Pekin ducks Anas platyrhynchos were chronically equipped with thermodes in the vertebral canal. Metabolic heat production, parabronchial oxygen extraction, vertebral canal temperature and body temperature were measured simultaneously before and during spinal cooling, at ambient temperatures ranging from 6 to 25 ^oC. Lowering vertebral canal temperature from 41.4 ± 0.2 °C to 35.9 ± 0.6 °C gave a mean increase in metabolic heat production of 1.54 ± 0.26 W kg^-1. Even though the spinal cooling had a clear metabolic effect, there was no concomitant change in parabronchial oxygen extraction. It is concluded that the thermosensitive structures residing in the spinal cord are not involved in the regulation of parabronchial gas exchange. The increase in parabronchial oxygen extraction, which is reported during cold exposure in birds, may therefore be induced by thermal inputs from peripheral thermoreceptors.     

单侧与双侧入路PVP治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的近期临床疗效观察

目的比较单侧与双侧经椎弓根入路经皮椎体成形术(percutaneous vertebroplasty,PVP)治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2016年1月至2018年5月于我院行PVP治疗的78例单个椎体骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折患者资料,根据手术入路不同分为两组:单侧组33例,男6例,女27例,年龄56～100岁,平均(74.2±9.6)岁;双侧组45例,男6例,女39例,年龄57～94岁,平均(75.0±8.3)岁。统计分析两组患者的疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)、手术时间、骨水泥注入量、骨水泥渗漏率、手术前后骨折椎体压缩程度、手术前后骨折椎体后凸Cobb角、术后骨折椎体前缘高度恢复率及后凸Cobb角恢复率。结果两组患者术后疼痛症状均较术前明显改善,组内术后VAS评分均明显低于术前,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);但两组间术后VAS评分差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。单侧入路组平均手术时间(56.9±29.7) min较双侧入路组(71.1±25.7) min短,骨水泥平均注入量(2.6±1.0) mL较双侧入路组(4.1±1.1) mL少,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。单侧入路组骨水泥渗漏率18.2%(6/33)略高于双侧入路组15.6%(7/45),但两组差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组术后椎体压缩程度及后凸Cobb角均较术前改善,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),但两组间术后椎体高度恢复率及后凸Cobb角恢复率差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论采用单侧与双侧经椎弓根入路PVP治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折,均能取得良好的治疗效果,但单侧入路组手术时间短、穿刺损伤小。     

Simulation of an anterior spine instrumentation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using a flexible multi-body model

Anterior spinal instrumentation is an alternative option to posterior instrumentation for surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). However, optimal instrumentation configuration and strategies are not yet clearly defined. A biomechanical kinematic model using flexible mechanism was developed to study instrumentation strategies. Preoperative 3D reconstruction of scoliotic patient’s spine was used to define the patient-specific geometry of the model. Mechanical properties were adjusted to consider the discectomy and surgical manoeuvres were reproduced. Anterior spine surgeries of ten patients were simulated and results were compared to immediate post-operative data and showed differences of <5° for the Cobb angles. The validated model was used to find optimal instrumentation configurations for one patient prior to surgery. Six strategies were tested out of which the optimal one was identified while two were not recommended for surgery since screw forces exceeded published pullout forces. This study demonstrates the possibility to simulate anterior spine instrumentations.     

双平面定位机器人辅助PKP治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折的可行性分析

目的比较机器人辅助与传统徒手经皮椎体后凸成形术治疗骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折的效果。方法选取2018年9月至2019年12月内蒙古医科大学附属医院收治的骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折患者24例,随机分为机器人辅助组(RA组)和传统透视下徒手组(TF组),记录两组患者的手术时间、术中透视次数、透视时间、内倾角、骨水泥注射量等手术指标并进行比较。结果RA组与TF组比较,手术时间短[(40.16±4.26)min vs.(52.75±6.64)min],术中透视次数少[(8.83±1.19)次vs.(18.92±1.78)次]、透视时间短[(10.74±1.15)s vs.(23.28±1.85)s]、内倾角更大[(21.79±1.65)°vs.(17.30±1.87)°],骨水泥注射量更少[(3.68±0.97)mL vs.(4.78±1.11)mL],差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组患者术前及术后疼痛视觉模拟评分(VAS)评分、Cobb角及椎体中线高度无区别,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论机器人辅助下椎体后凸成形术相较于传统透视下徒手操作有着更高的精准性及安全性,在骨质疏松性椎体压缩骨折的临床治疗中有着良好的应用前景。     

Theoretical evaluation of a simple cooling pad for inducing hypothermia in the spinal cord following traumatic injury

The Pennes bioheat equation and finite element method (FEM) are used to solve for the temperature distributions in the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during 30 min of cooling for spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. The average CSF and spinal cord temperatures are reduced by 3.48 and 2.72°C, respectively. The 100-mm wide pad provides the desired cooling and uses the least amount of material. The presence of zero-average CSF oscillation under normal conditions decreases the cooling extent in the spinal cord due to the introduction of warm CSF surrounding the spinal cord. The temperature decrease in the spinal cord is more than doubled when the temperature at the back of the torso is lowered from 20 to 0°C. Spinal cord ischemia, often observed after traumatic spinal cord injury, promotes cooling penetration. The proposed technique can reduce the spinal cord temperature by 2°C within 30 min and may be a feasible treatment for traumatic SCI.     

A 3D Radiomics-Based Artificial Neural Network Model for Benign Versus Malignant Vertebral Compression Fracture Classification in MRI

To train an artificial neural network model using 3D radiomic features to differentiate benign from malignant vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) on MRI. This retrospective study analyzed sagittal T1-weighted lumbar spine MRIs from 91 patients (average age of 64.24 ± 11.75 years) diagnosed with benign or malignant VCFs from 2010 to 2019, of them 47 (51.6%) had benign VCFs and 44 (48.4%) had malignant VCFs. The lumbar fractures were three-dimensionally segmented and had their radiomic features extracted and selected with the wrapper method. The training set consisted of 100 fractured vertebral bodies from 61 patients (average age of 63.2 ± 12.5 years), and the test set was comprised of 30 fractured vertebral bodies from 30 patients (average age of 66.4 ± 9.9 years). Classification was performed with the multilayer perceptron neural network with a back-propagation algorithm. To validate the model, the tenfold cross-validation technique and an independent test set (holdout) were used. The performance of the model was evaluated using the average with a 95% confidence interval for the ROC AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity (considering the threshold = 0.5). In the internal validation test, the best model reached a ROC AUC of 0.98, an accuracy of 95% (95/100), a sensitivity of 93.5% (43/46), and specificity of 96.3% (52/54). In the validation with independent test set, the model achieved a ROC AUC of 0.97, an accuracy of 93.3% (28/30), a sensitivity of 93.3% (14/15), and a specificity of 93.3% (14/15). The model proposed in this study using radiomic features could differentiate benign from malignant vertebral compression fractures with excellent performance and is promising as an aid to radiologists in the characterization of VCFs.