Towards new material biomarkers for fracture risk.
Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone condition, characterised by low bone mass and increased fracture risk. Currently, the gold standard for identifying osteoporosis and increased fracture risk is through quantification of bone mineral density (BMD) using dual energy X-ray absorption (DEXA). However, the risk of osteoporotic fracture is determined collectively by bone mass, architecture and physicochemistry of the mineral composite building blocks. Thus DEXA scans alone inevitably fail to fully discriminate individuals who will suffer a fragility fracture. This study examines trabecular bone at both ultrastructure and microarchitectural levels to provide a detailed material view of bone, and therefore provides a more comprehensive explanation of osteoporotic fracture risk. Physicochemical characterisation obtained through X-ray diffraction and infrared analysis indicated significant differences in apatite crystal chemistry and nanostructure between fracture and non-fracture groups. Further, this study, through considering the potential correlations between the chemical biomarkers and microarchitectural properties of trabecular bone, has investigated the relationship between bone mechanical properties (e.g. fragility) and physicochemical material features.
Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham, UK. Electronic address: c.greenwood@cranfield.ac.uk.
C
C
Greenwood
Forensic Odontology, Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
J
J
Clement
The Imaging Science Group, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
A
A
Dicken
The Imaging Science Group, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
J P O
JP
Evans
Cobalt Health, Cheltenham, UK.
I
I
Lyburn
Social and Community Medicine, Bristol University, Bristol, UK.
R M
RM
Martin
Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham, UK.
K
K
Rogers
Physics and Astronomy, Exeter University, Exeter, UK.
N
N
Stone
Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Defence Academy of the UK, Shrivenham, UK.
P
P
Zioupos
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers
Aging; Bone quality; Hydroxyapatite; Osteoporosis; Trabecular bone; X-ray diffraction