title: Assessment of femoral neck strength by 3-dimensional X-ray absorptiometry.
abstract: Hip fractures due to osteoporosis are accompanied with increased mortality and morbidity. Bone mineral density (BMD [g/cm(2)]) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most important risk factor. However, an overlap exists between results of fractured and nonfractured populations. Macro-architectural parameters of the femur are independent risk factors of fracture. They have been evaluated in two dimensions using X-ray films or DXA scans; therefore, they are highly dependent on patient positioning and interindividual anatomical variations. To overcome this problem, we have previously shown the possibility to reconstruct human femurs using two perpendicular DXA scans and to calculate 3-dimensional (3D) geometric parameters from these reconstructions by a method called 3-dimensional X-ray absorptiometry (3D-XA). The aim of this article is to assess whether the combination of areal BMD and 3D geometric parameters calculated from 3D-XA improves failure load prediction of human proximal femurs in stance phase configuration. Twelve femurs (11 women, 1 man; aged 88+/-9 yr; range: 72-103 yr) were included in this study. The BMD was measured using a Hologic Delphi-W device (Hologic, Waltham, MA) and 3D reconstruction of the femurs was done using two perpendicular DXA scans as previously published. The calculated 3D geometric parameters included femoral neck axis length (FNAL), mid-femoral neck cross-sectional area (mid-FN CSA), neck shaft angle (NSA), and femoral head diameter (FHD). Mechanical testing was performed using stance phase configuration, which resulted in subcapital fractures. The FHD was correlated to mid-FN CSA and FNAL (r=0.68 and 0.76, respectively; p<0.001). Failure load was correlated to age, FHD, NSA, and BMD measurements. Multiple regression analysis showed that femoral neck BMD, FHD, and mid-FN CSA gave the best statistical model for failure load prediction (r(2)=0.84; p<0.002). This is the first study suggesting that combining areal BMD to 3D geometric parameters obtained by 3D-XA improve failure load prediction in human femurs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biomécanique, ENSAM-CNRS Paris, France. anthonyle_bras@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Bras
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolta
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Soubrane
authors.forename: Wafa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Skalli
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mitton
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013314:Stress, Mechanical