MATERIALS AND METHODS
Patients. Eighty-five postmenopausal women (age 48 to 77 y, mean 66 y) with spinal crush fracture osteoporosis were investigated. The patients were selected based on the experience of at least one low energy fracture (median 3.0 fractures, range 1-11) in the halisteretic spine. Patients with secondary osteoporosis, hyperparathyroidism, abnormal thyroid or liver function, and patients in whom a mineralization defect could be demonstrated by histomorphometric
examination of iliac crest bone biopsies were excluded. Patients with a known abuse of ethanol or medicine or receiving drugs known to influence bone metabolism, and patients in whom cancer could be suspected, were excluded as well. The study was approved by the County Ethical Committee, and the patients entered the study after informed consent was
obtained according to the Declaration of Helsinki II.