Establishment of normality curve of bone parameters obtained in high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) including finite element analysis in healthy women

Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) and its main consequence, fracture, is a global public health problem. The fragility fractures occur typically in the hip, spine and wrist, although any bone site can be affected. Measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) of these regions by dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is currently the most acceptable method for the OP diagnosis. However, BMD is not the only predictor of fracture risk so a considerable percentage of individuals with fracture have non-osteoporotic BMD values. In addition, DXA does not distinguish between cortical and trabecular compartments. A High Resolution peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography, (HR-pQCT) improved considerably the evaluation of properties of bone in vivo to allow further evaluation of trabecular and cortical microarchitecture and volumetric bone mineral density that can better predict the risk of fractures in OP. Furthermore, the bone analysis by the method of Finite Element (FE) allowed complementing the evaluation as it estimates functional characteristics of the tissue. However the analysis and the interpretation of this method depend on a standard of normality, which does not yet exist for the Brazilian population. The objective of this study is to establish a normal curve of the parameters that HR-pQCT and FE evaluate in healthy subjects of different age groups in a sample of the Brazilian population. The distal radius and distal tibia analysis by HR-pQCT will be assessed in approximately 400 healthy female using bone microarchiteture parameters and FE data. (AU)