Loss of bone mass after Colles' fracture: a follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Colles' fracture usually associated with osteoporosis is regarded as the predictor of subsequent osteoporotic fracture. However, it is not clear how the local changes of bone mass take place during the course of treatment and whether the changes are related to clinical practice. The objective of the current study was to investigate the local changes of bone mass in patients with Colles' fracture and their possible clinical relevance in a follow-up study.


METHODS
The radiograms of the second metacarpal in 64 patients with Colles' fracture were assessed for bone density immediately after fracture, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after fracture, respectively. Functional results were evaluated at one year.


RESULTS
Bone mass six weeks after Colles' fracture was significantly decreased without returning to normal at one year though increased bone mass had been identified 6 months after fracture (P < 0.05), (P < 0.01). At one year significant (P < 0.05) or highly significant (P < 0.01) correlations were observed between bone mass indices of metacarpal and functional results, indicating that poor function is associated with lower bone density. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between fracture patterns also suggested that patients with more severe fractures have a more pronounced bone loss.


CONCLUSIONS
Bone loss during the course of treatment will have a direct effect upon the prognosis, so different treatment should be proposed for different patterns of fractures. Active exercise should be made to improve the recovery of bone mass.
Dai
Li-yang
LY
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Jiang
Lei-sheng
LS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008663:Metacarpus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography