Incidence and Predictors of Kummell’s Disease in Patients with Benign Vertebral Compression Fractures

Objective: Kummell's disease (KD) is a form of delayed vertebral compression fracture. However, its incidence and predictors remain unclear. We investigated the incidence rate and predictors of KD in patients with benign vertebral compression fractures.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 437 consecutive patients with benign vertebral compression fractures admitted to XXX between 2015 and 2018. The inclusion criterion was patients with newly diagnosed KD at ≥20 years of age. The control subjects had acute benign vertebral compression fractures. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of KD.Results: In total, 39 patients (8.9%) were newly diagnosed with KD, with an average age of 77.3 years. In older patients (≥70 years), the incidence was 12.8%. The incidence rate was highest in patients in their 70s. Most cases of KD (69.2%) occurred in the thoracolumbar region. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age ≥70 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–9.97; p=0.041) and a history of ischemic stroke (OR, 2.92; 95% CI, 1.26–6.74; p=0.012) were independently associated with KD.Conclusion: KD appears to be relatively common, especially in older people (≥70 years). Older age and a history of ischemic stroke may be independent predictors of KD. This study also indicated that ischemic factors may play a more important role than mechanical factors in the development of KD from vertebral compression fractures.