Computerized tomography evaluation of cortical bone properties in the tibia.
BACKGROUND
Tibia shaft fractures are among the most common fractures. However, the incidence of tibia fractures does not increase in the elderly. Osteoporotic bone resorption is possibly compensated for by periosteal apposition, which improves the mechanical properties of the bone. The purpose of this study was to identify a correlation between geometric indices of transverse bone scans and radiologic bone density based in CT studies.


METHODS
12 human cadaver tibiae were CT examined. Radiological density in Hounsfield units was evaluated in transverse bone scans taken at the junction of the distal and middle third of the tibial shaft. The average and maximum radiological density and area of cortical bone were evaluated.


RESULTS
Average radiological bone density decreased with age. This was not accompanied by a corresponding increase in cortical bone area.


CONCLUSIONS
The study did not provide direct confirmation that age-related osteoporotic bone resorption is compensated for by periosteal apposition.
Kowalczyk
Marek
M
Katedra i Klinika Ortopedii i Traumatologii Narzadu Ruchu Akademii Medycznej, Wrocław. marekkowalczyk1@gazeta.pl
Wall
Andrzej
A
Turek
Tomasz
T
Kulej
Mirosław
M
Scigała
Krzysztof
K
Kawecki
Jerzy
J
D015519:Bone Density; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed