title: [The challenges of the bone micro-architecture].
abstract: Osteoporosis is a bone disorder that leads to increased fracture risk. It was defined by the World Health Organisation as a decrease of bone mass and a deterioration of bone quality. In clinical practice, the diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on bone mineral density (BMD) measurements assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. However, BMD assessment is not the only factor that influences bone strength. The main objective is that clinicians can use a combination of risk factors that are easily assessable, for a better prediction of osteoporosis risk fracture. Bone strength reflects both bone density and bone quality. One of the most important determinants of bone quality is the trabecular bone micro-architecture as suggested by the definition of osteoporosis. Moreover, various studies have concluded to the potential clinical interest of the bone micro-architecture. The aim of this article was to review the challenges of bone micro-architecture, characterization tools (morphological analysis, topology, texture) and imaging techniques (X-ray imaging, scanning and MRI) to assess trabecular bone micro-architecture.
authors.affiliation: CHR Orléans, Hôpital porte Madeleine, IPROS, France. mouna.rachidi@chr-orleans.fr
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rachidi
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Breban
authors.forename: Claude-Laurent
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Benhamou
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D001706:Biopsy; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013718:Tensile Strength