Preoperative Assessment of Bone Density Using MRI-Based Vertebral Bone Quality Score Modified for Patients Undergoing Cervical Spine Surgery

Abstract

This is the first study to apply the VBQ method to assess the bone density in preoperative cervical spine patients. Cervical VBQ scores were significantly correlated with DEXA T-score. With an overall accuracy of .78, the radiation-free and cost-effective method could be a potential tool for screening patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis before surgery.