ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF FEMORAL BONE FROM PATIENTS WITH FRACTURED NECK OF FEMUR OR OSTEOARTHROSIS

The elemental composition of bone has been determined by inductively c oupled atomic emission and mass spectrometry to test the hypothesis th at changes in major or minor elemental concentrations may contribute t o the risk of fracture, Femoral bone was obtained from patients at ope ration for the treatment of fracture and compared with that of patient s with osteoarthrosis and a necropsy control group, The data suggest t hat there are no major differences in bone elemental composition in pa tients with fractures compared with the control group, Bone adjacent t o joints with osteoarthrosis tends to be less mineralized (per unit tr abecular bone volume) than control bone and bone from fracture patient s, and has significantly lower concentrations of boron, lead and, zinc , These observations may reflect the more rapid turnover of bone close to the arthritic joint.