Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the distal femur may be more reliable than the proximal tibia in spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the precision of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scanning at 2 skeletal sites at the knee (proximal femur and distal tibia) in people with SCI.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Veterans Affairs Medical Center.


METHODS
Subjects (N=20) with chronic SCI.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Precision as determined by root mean square coefficient of variation (RMS-CV) and root mean square standard deviation (RMS-SD).


RESULTS
At the distal femur the root RMS-CV was 3.01% and the RMS-SD was 0.025g/cm2. At the proximal tibia the RMS-CV was 5.91% and the RMS-SD was 0.030g/cm2.


CONCLUSIONS
Precision at the distal femur is greater than at the proximal tibia and we recommend it as the preferred site for the longitudinal assessment of bone mineral density at the knee in chronic SCI.
Morse
Leslie R
LR
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. lmorse4@partners.org
Lazzari
Antonio A
AA
Battaglino
Ricardo
R
Stolzmann
Kelly L
KL
Matthess
Kirby R
KR
Gagnon
David R
DR
Davis
Samuel A
SA
Garshick
Eric
E
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D014728:Veterans