J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2021 Aug;56(4):334-340. 10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.4.334.

Analysis of Bone Mineral Density of Ankle Fracture Patients

• Kim TH
• Lee JH
• Park SH

• KMID: 2519125
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2021.56.4.334

Abstract

Purpose
This study analyzed the bone mineral densities of the lumbar vertebrae and femurs of patients with ankle fractures to determine the correlation between ankle fractures and osteoporosis.
Materials and Methods
From April 2002 to July 2014, one hundred consecutive ankle fracture patients with bone mineral density tests performed within post-traumatic one year were enrolled. The patients were divided into three age groups according to their age at the time of injury (group 1: <50, group 2: 50–69, group 3: ≥70). The types of ankle fractures were classified into unimalleolar, bimalleolar and trimalleolar fractures. The bone mineral density was analyzed using the T score, Z score, absolute value (g/cm 2 ) of the lumbar spine (L1–L4), femur neck, femur intertrochanter, and total femur.
Results
There were 3.2 times more females with ankle fractures than males, and the prevalence of osteoporosis according to age group was 0% in the group under 50 years, 24.2% in the 50 to 69-year-old group, and 15% in the group over 70 years. Osteoporosis was found in 30% of patients with a trimalleolar fracture in the 50 to 69-year-old group. In all patient groups, a lower age indicated a higher frequency of unimalleolar fractures. The relationship between the bone mineral density and the type of fracture is that the frequency of trimalleolar fracture increased with decreasing T score of the lumbar vertebrae and the absolute value of bone mineral density (g/cm 2 ) and the Z score of the femur neck, but there were no other indicators.
Conclusion
Among the 100 patients with ankle fractures, females were more common than males, because osteoporosis was less severe in males. The incidence of unimalleolar fracture was higher than that of trimalleolar fracture. On the other hand, the correlation between the ankle fractures and the bone mineral density of the femur and lumbar spine was not significant.

Keyword

ankle fracture; osteoporosis; bone mineral density