Vertebral fractures in Crohn's. (Clinical Capsules).

Vertebral fractures often go clinically undetected in patients with Crohn's disease who have osteoporosis or osteopenia, said J. Klaus of the University of Ulm (Germany) and associates.

Of 293 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease, 111 had osteopenia and 45 had osteoporosis. Of these 156 patients, 34 had one or more osteoporotic vertebral fractures. These 34 patients were 38 years old on average; 12 of them were less than 30 years old. Of the 34 patients with fractures, 30 did not have severe back pain or disability, ...