The Relationship of Femoral Trabecular - Pattern Index and Bone Mineral Density in Osteoporosis

Suk, Se Il; Lee, Duk Yong; Kang, Shin Young; Park, Kyoung Won

Abstract

Osteoporosis represents a reduced amount of bone tissue as compared with controls of same age and sex, and common feature of osteoporosis is a state of skeletal fragility leading to various fractures such as Colles' fracture, vertebral compression fracture, femur neck fracture, generally due to an inadequate amount of normally mineralized bone tissue, making the skeleton incapable of supporting normal mechanical demand. However it is difficult to quantify precisely its magnitude because of the variety of techniques used and the many bone sampling sites concerned. In 1970, Singh and associates(24.25) developed a method for grading the trabecular structure of the proximal end of the femur and reported that the femoral trabecular pattern index can clearly separate persons with osteoporosis from normal individuals. Cameron and its associstes developed an accurste method of determining bone mineral content by means of I-125 photon absorptiometry(5. 28). This method is consistently reproducible at the 98% level and has demonstrated agreement with ash measurement of cadaver bones at the 97% level. A comparative study of the usefulness of the femoral trabecular pattern index(Singh Index) and rsdial bone mineral content measurement by photon absorption was performed in 75 Kroean persons above forty years old. 25 of 75 persons were fracture patients due to osteoporosis. The results were as follows. 1. A significant difference in Singh index was noted between the fracture group snd control group. 2. A significant difference in bone mineral density was noted between the fracture group and control group. 3. A positive correlation was noted between the bone mineral denisty and Singh Index. 4. A significant difference in bone mineral density was noted between the fracture group and the control group which have same grade of Singh Index. So, we believe that bone mineral density is more objective and accurate than Singh Index. 5. We believe that both Singh Index and bone densitometer is useful in diagnosis and grading of osteoporosis.