A new study by HSS investigators, presented at the AAOS Annual Meeting, found that a significant number of lumbar spine surgery patients had previously undiagnosed osteoporosis.

The study enrolled patients undergoing lumbar spine fusion for a degenerative condition or spinal instability.

"The literature reporting QCT-based lumbar spine bone density is scarce, and we believe our study is the first of its kind," said HSS spine surgeon and senior investigator Alexander P. Hughes, MD.

"Spine surgeons should be aware of the high prevalence of abnormal bone mineral density in lumbar spine patients and the possibility that those without a previous diagnosis may have osteopenia or osteoporosis," Dr. Hughes said.

Read the full article at Becker's Spine Review.