Unequal decrease in bone density of lumbar spine and ultradistal radius in Colles' and vertebral fracture syndromes.
We measured bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (LS-BMD) and ultradistal radius (UDR-BMD) in 42 postmenopausal normal women and in 108 postmenopausal osteoporotic women (55 with vertebral fracture, 34 with Colles' fracture, and 19 with both fractures). By receiver operating characteristic analysis, LS-BMD was better than UDR-BMD (P less than 0.01) as an indicator of vertebral fracture; the converse was true for Colles' fracture (P less than 0.01). Although UDR-BMD and LS-BMD were lower in each of the three fracture groups than in controls (P less than 0.01), the pattern of bone loss differed (P less than 0.001, analysis of variance): with vertebral fracture, LS-BMD decreased relatively more than UDR-BMD; with Colles' fracture, UDR-BMD decreased relatively more than LS-BMD; and with both fractures, decreases in LS-BMD and UDR-BMD were similar. We conclude that both types of fracture are caused by excessive bone loss but the difference in bone loss at the two sites is a major factor in determining which will fracture.
Eastell
R
R
Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.
Wahner
H W
HW
O'Fallon
W M
WM
Amadio
P C
PC
Melton
L J
LJ
Riggs
B L
BL
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000032:analysis / Q000473:pathology*; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000473:pathology*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000473:pathology*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000473:pathology*
D008903:Minerals