title: Costo-iliac distance: a physical sign of understated importance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoporosis is a common condition, especially affecting the older female population. The ability to predict loss of lumbar height using simple anatomical measurements would be a useful tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty subjects were recruited. Mean age was 72 years. Arm span (AS) and the costo-iliac distance (CID) were measured. The CID/AS ratio was calculated. The L(1)-L(4) vertebral height of each patient was obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant correlation between the lumbar height and CID/AS ratio (R (2) = 0.79, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CID/AS ratio may be a useful bedside test in identifying loss of lumbar vertebral height.
authors: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Republic of Ireland. pat_barry@eircom.net
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Barry
authors: D
authors: D
authors: O'Mahony
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012272:Ribs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*