title: Osteoporotic bone fragility. Detection by ultrasound transmission velocity.
abstract: We evaluated ultrasound transmission velocity at the patella as an indicator of osteoporotic fragility in 293 nonobese women. Osteoporosis was defined by atraumatic vertebral compression deformity. Ultrasound velocity averaged 1954 +/- 71 (+/- SD) m/s in premenopausal normal women and declined significantly with age after menopause, largely independently of age-related loss of spine bone mass. Postmenopausal osteoporotic women had lower velocities than normal women (-76 m/s). After allowing for slight differences in age between the groups, the difference (-54 m/s) was still significant. Women with velocities below 1825 m/s were about six times more likely to have one or more fractures than women with velocities about that level. By sensitivity-specificity analysis, ultrasound velocity discriminated between normal and osteoporotic women as well as direct measurement of spine bone mass. Ultrasound velocity measures both bone mass and a component of bone fragility distinct from decreased mass; it is a potentially valuable new tool for evaluating women for osteoporotic fragility.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Heaney
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Avioli
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chesnut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lappe
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Recker
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brandenburger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010329:Patella / Q000503:physiopathology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography