Using MRI Bone Texture to Predict Complications After Spine Fusion Surgery
Official title: MRI Bone Texture: A Novel Biomarker for Assessment of Bone Quality and Prediction of Complications in Patients Having Spine Fusion Surgery
Funded at Hospital for Special Surgery · NIH-11097316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether a new way to analyze MRI scans can help predict bone quality and potential problems for people having spine fusion surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hospital for Special Surgery NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $133,541 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081574-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research would be individuals preparing for or who have recently undergone spine fusion surgery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing spine fusion surgery or those without spinal conditions would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Spine fusion surgery is a common procedure, but complications can happen in many cases. We know that the quality of your bone is very important for a successful fusion and for hardware to stay stable. Currently, it's hard to check bone quality before surgery using standard methods like DXA scans, which can be affected by spinal issues. This project aims to use a new technique that analyzes the texture of bone in routine MRI scans, which are already done for spinal disease diagnosis and surgical planning. By looking at the irregularity of bone texture, we hope to identify patients who might be at higher risk for complications after surgery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help doctors better identify patients at risk for complications before spine fusion surgery, allowing for more personalized care and potentially improved outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Our group has previously found that postmenopausal women with fractures had more irregular bone texture, suggesting this MRI-based method holds promise.
Where this research is happening
-
Hospital for Special Surgery
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stein, Emily Margaret — Hospital for Special Surgery
- Study coordinator: Stein, Emily Margaret
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.