title: Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the distal femur may be more reliable than the proximal tibia in spinal cord injury.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, The Forsyth Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. lmorse4@partners.org
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Antonio A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lazzari
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Battaglino
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Stolzmann
authors.forename: Kirby R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Matthess
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garshick
mesh_terms: 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