[Bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with proximal femoral fractures--comparative study between quantitative ultrasonometry and gold standard DXA].

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis associated proximal femoral fracture is a major public health problem. Diagnostic assessment includes patients history, laboratory testings and bone mineral density measurements. Hereby, dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is regarded as the "Goldstandard". Quantitative ultrasonometry (QUS) of bone is a safe, simple, free of radiation, portable, cost-effective and therefore powerful diagnostic tool. QUS should be taken in account for primary assessment in patients with supposed osteoporosis in clinical practice.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We performed this cross sectional pilot study to evaluate the ability of two different QUS-devices (os calcis) in comparison to DXA (lumbar spine and femoral neck) to discriminate postmenopausal women with proximal femoral fractures from healthy, age- and BMI-matched controls.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: All together, 44 postmenopausal women were included. Of these, 22 suffered a proximal femoral fracture and were compared with 22 healthy, age- and BMI-matched controls. Bone assessments were performed by DXA (femoral neck and lumbar spine) and QUS of the heel using Achilles and Insight.

RESULTS: T- and Z-Score of DXA (femoral neck) were significantly lower in women with hip fracture compared to controls (p < 0.008 and p < 0.01). QUS-Insight also revealed significantly lower values of T- and Z-Score in women with hip fracture compared to controls (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005). QUS-Achilles measurement results also comprised significant differences between the groups (T-Score und Z-Score: p < 0.02). In accordance to the T-Score (femoral neck), all three devices (DXA femoral neck, Achilles and Insight) showed an equal significant correlation (p < 0.001). The correlation in between both QUS-devices was higher (0.956; p < 0.0001) than in between DXA-results (femoral neck vs. lumbar spine, 0.577; p < 0.01). The Z-Score also showed a significant correlation. DXA (lumbar spine) didn't show any significant differences in T- and Z-Score.

CONCLUSION: In comparison to the gold standard DXA (femoral neck), both QUS-devices showed an equal ability to significantly discriminate postmenopausal women with proximal femoral fractures from healthy, age- and BMI-matched controls. If our results are confirmed by more cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, QUS could be a helpful and valuable technique in clinical practice. Finally, all patients with osteoporosis-related fractures should be thoroughly investigated during their hospitalisation and effective treatment must be instituted.