COMPARISON BETWEEN BROAD-BAND ULTRASOUND ATTENUATION OF THE CALCANEUMAND TOTAL-BODY BONE-MINERAL DENSITY IN CHILDREN

We measured broad-band ultrasound attenuation (BUA) in the calcaneum u sing the prototype Paediatric Contact Ultrasound Bone Analyser (CUBA) and total body bone mineral density (TBBMD) using dual-energy X-ray ab sorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR-1000W) in 58, 7-17-year-old healthy ch ildren and adolescents. Calcaneal BUA was significantly related to TBB MD (r = 0.74, p < 0.001), and both the calcaneal BUA and TBBMD were si gnificantly correlated with age and body weight, We conclude that calc aneal BUA reflects bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy children and adolescents; however, BMD measured by CUBA appears to be less sensitiv e than that measured by DXA. Since BUA reflects structural properties of bone, as well as density, it may complement radiological techniques of bone density measurement in the assessment of paediatric condition s associated with fracture risk.