Correlation of ultrasound bone velocity with dual-energy X-ray bone absorptiometry in rat bone specimens.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate bone mass measurements by ultrasound bond velocity (UBV) in bone specimens obtained from experimental animals.


METHODS
The authors made UBV measurements in 40 femurs and tibias dissected from Sprague-Dawley rats (14 weeks-old, mean weight 290 g) and compared them with bone densitometric measurements made on the same material using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA).


RESULTS
The coefficient of variation for UBV measurements, based on values obtained in five femurs and five tibias at different times, was 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. Regression studies yielded a correlation between UBV and bone mineral density in femur of r = 0.87 (P < 0.0001) and with bone mineral content of r = 0.65 (P < 0.0001); in the tibia similar levels of significance were obtained. The correlation between femur weight and UBV was r = 0.51 (P < 0.0005) and with bone mineral content it was r = 0.79 (P < 0.0001). Partial correlation between UBV and femur bone mineral density, with respect to bone weight, was r = 0.68 (P < 0.001), and with femur bone mineral content was r = 0.71 (P < 0.0001). In the tibia measurements were similarly significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements of bone mass made with ultrasound transmission velocity are precise correlate well with DXA measurements.
Amo
C
C
Department of Medicine, Universidad de Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Revilla
M
M
Hernandez
E R
ER
Gonzalez-Riola
J
J
Villa
L F
LF
Seco
C
C
Rico
H
H
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016014:Linear Models; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography