title: Measurement of Bone: Diagnosis of SCI-Induced Osteoporosis and Fracture Risk Prediction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a rapid loss of bone mass, resulting in severe osteoporosis and a 5- to 23-fold increase in fracture risk. Despite the seriousness of fractures in SCI, there are multiple barriers to osteoporosis diagnosis and wide variations in treatment practices for SCI-induced osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We review the biological and structural changes that are known to occur in bone after SCI in the context of promoting future research to prevent or reduce risk of fracture in this population. We also review the most commonly used methods for assessing bone after SCI and discuss the strengths, limitations, and clinical applications of each method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry assessments of bone mineral density may be used clinically to detect changes in bone after SCI, 3-dimensional methods such as quantitative CT analysis are recommended for research applications and are explained in detail.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Troy
authors.affiliation: Spaulding-Harvard SCI Model System, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.|Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Leslie R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon / Q000379:methods; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: QCT; bone density; finite element analysis; fracture; osteoporosis; rehabilitation medicine; spinal cord injury