BROAD-BAND ULTRASOUND ATTENUATION OF THE OS CALCIS - PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) measurements of the calcaneus w ere performed in 87 healthy subjects and in 17 patients with osteoporo tic vertebral fractures. In 52 normal subjects, bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar spine were measured by quantitative CT (QCT), and in another group of 15 normal subjects, BMD of the lumbar spine was m easured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BUA showed a neg ative significant correlation with age (r = 0,44; p<0,001), and was mo re pronounced in women. A significant positive correlation of BUA in t he os calcis with lumbar BMD using QCT (r = 0,53, p<0,001) or DXA (r = 0,81; p<0,001), was observed. We found no significant difference betw een osteoporotic patients (n = 17 ; mean BUA value: 58.4 +/- 18) and c ontrols (n = 17; mean BUA value; 61 +/- 15). The mean coefficient of v ariation was high: 6%. These results suggest that BUA is not yet a val uable tool in general clinical practice and that further additional im provements are necessary in order to use it in the management of osteo porosis.