title: Osteopenia in patients with above knee amputation.
abstract: Using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, we studied 16 male patients with unilateral above knee amputations (AKA) with a mean age of 48 years (range, 23 to 66 years) who were full-time prosthetic users for more than 5 years. All prostheses were ischial weight bearing. All 16 subjects were found to have normal bone density in their spines and in the normal femurs when compared to nonamputation controls. However, a significant decrease of mean femoral neck bone density was found on the amputated side (0.68g/cm2, range, 0.52 to 1.01) when compared to the normal side (1.01g/cm2, range, 0.75 to 1.20) (p < .05). The mean bone density percentage difference between the two sides was 28% (range, 4% to 48%). There was a significantly negative correlation between the patient's age at the time of amputation and the severity of osteopenia (-0.73; p < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirsh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devlin
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000674:Amputees; D015519:Bone Density; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged