title: Age-and region-dependent changes in three-dimensional microstructural properties of proximal femoral trabeculae.
abstract: This study investigated regional variations in the 3D microstructure of trabecular bone in human proximal femur, with respect to aging. The results demonstrate that age-related changes in trabecular microstructure significantly varied from different sub-regions of the proximal femur.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  We hypothesize that the age-related changes in trabecular bone microstructure appear to be varied from specific anatomic sub-regions of the proximal femur followed by non-uniform bone loss. The purpose of this study was therefore to explore regional variations in the 3D microstructure of trabecular bone in human proximal femur, with respect to aging.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 162 trabecular bone cores from six regions of 27 femora of male cadaver donors were scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The following microstructural parameters were calculated: bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), thickness (Tb.Th) and separation (Tb.Sp), structure model index (SMI), and degree of anisotropy (DOA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age-related changes in trabecular microstructure varied from different regions of the proximal femur. There was a significant decrease in bone volume fraction and an almost identical decrease in trabecular thickness associated with aging at any region. Regional analysis demonstrated a significant difference in BV/TV, Tb.Th, Tb.Sp, Tb.N and DOA between superior and inferior neck, as well as a significant difference in BV/TV, Tb.Sp, Tb.N, SMI and DOA between superior and inferior trochanter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age-related changes in bone loss and trabecular microstructure within the male proximal femur are not uniform in this cadaveric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ajou University School of Medicine, San 5, Wonchon-dong, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-721, South Korea.
authors.forename: W-Q
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Y-Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: M-H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: D-H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y-S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Y-Z
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology*; D016880:Anisotropy; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods