| Objective To investigate the risk factors for delayed kyphotic deformity in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Methods A total of 137 patients with conservative treatment were retrospectively examined from January 2014 to January 2017. Clinical data and radiological data were recorded and analyzed. Patients were grouped into kyphotic deformity group and control group according to if local kyphotic angle ≥ 30° at the final follow-up. Student’s-t test and chi-square test were performed to identify the risk factors for kyphotic deformity, including age, body mass index (BMI), bone mineral density (BMD), last VAS, last ODI, initial percentage of vertebral height loss, gender, thoracolumbar fracture, fracture type, posterior wall involvement of fractured vertebrae, previous OVCFs adjacent the fractured vertebrae, and long-term use of glucocorticoids. Risk factors were further analyzed by Logistic regression analysis. Results All patients had radiological fellow up for more than 6 months, 73 (53.3%) out of 137 patients developed significant segmental kyphotic deformity. According to Student’s-t test and chi-square test, kyphotic deformity was significantly associated with BMD, thoracolumbar fracture, fracture type, posterior wall involvement of fractured vertebrae, and long-term use of glucocorticoids (P<0.05). By contrast, gender, age, BMI, last VAS, last ODI, initial percentage of vertebral height loss, and previous OVCFs adjacent the fractured vertebrae were not?? correlated with kyphotic deformity. Logistic regression analysis revealed that thoracolumbar fracture, posterior wall involvement of fractured vertebrae, and long-term use of glucocorticoids were significant risk factors, with odds ratio (OR) value of 16.129, 21.562, 5.922, respectively. Conclusion Thoracolumbar fracture, posterior wall involvement of fractured vertebrae, and long-term use of glucocorticoids are significant risk factors associated with delayed kyphotic deformity. |