Bone turnover markers are risk factors for endplate injuries during lumbar interbody fusion: a retrospective case-control study

Abstract Background Intraoperative endplate injury (IEI) is a type of fracture and a potential complication during lumbar interbody fusion (LIF). Osteoporosis diagnosed by bone mineral density (BMD) is a well-known risk factor for fracture itself and IEI also. The bone turnover markers (BTMs) are pa...

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Main Authors: Tae Hoon Kang, Sung Taek Chung, In-Wook Seo, Minjoon Cho, Jae Hyup Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-05585-7
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Summary:Abstract Background Intraoperative endplate injury (IEI) is a type of fracture and a potential complication during lumbar interbody fusion (LIF). Osteoporosis diagnosed by bone mineral density (BMD) is a well-known risk factor for fracture itself and IEI also. The bone turnover markers (BTMs) are parameters of bone qualities and have some correlations with fractures, but there is no study about the BTMs and intraoperative fractures especially IEI. This study aims to identify the correlation between IEI and BTMs, especially in misTLIF. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 184 patients (230 spine levels). The IEI was diagnosed as the breakage of the endplate observed on postoperative 1 mm thin-cut CT scans. All surgical and endogenous risk factors of IEI were also checked including the bone resorption marker (serum CTX) and bone formation marker (serum P1NP) of BTMs. Additionally, the ratio (P1NP/CTX) and the subtype groups of BTMs were analyzed. Results The rate of total IEI was 38%. The sex, osteoporosis, spine BMD, femur BMD, CTX, P1NP/CTX, preoperative disc height, and the discrepancy between preoperative disc height and cage size were risk factors in multivariate logistic regression analyses. The subtypes according to BTMs showed a different rate of IEI, resulting in subtype 2 A (low CTX and P1NP and high P1NP/CTX ratio) having the lowest incidence and statistically significant odds ratios compared to other subtype groups. Conclusion This study demonstrated that the IEI is related to BTMs regardless of BMD in misTLIF. In addition, the P1NP/CTX ratio or subtypes could be helpful in predicting the risk of IEI due to the parallel dynamics of BTMs.
ISSN:1749-799X