Assessment of low-energy fractures
Spinal radiography is the most widely used imaging method for identification of vertebral fractures. Vertebral fractures on radiographs are not always reported and remain under-diagnosed radiologically with false negative rates up to 45% [2]. The assessment of vertebral fractures is possible using visual, morphometric and semiquantitative methods [3–6]. The method for identification of vertebral fractures using computational techniques has also been applied to spine images acquired by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) developed by DXA manufacturers provides information on the vertebral body heights and their ratios and the patient’s fracture status is given. A recent study evaluated the utility of VFA to detect vertebral fractures [7]. Although the sensitivity of VFA was found to be less than that of radiography, in certain circumstances results support the use of VFA for the detection of prevalent vertebral fracture.