Cg. Alonso et al., Femoral bone mineral density, neck-shaft angle and mean femoral neck widthas predictors of hip fracture in men and women, OSTEOPOR IN, 11(8), 2000, pp. 714-720
The effect of femoral bone mineral density (BMD) and several parameters of
femoral neck geometry (hip axis length, neck-shaft angle and mean femoral n
eck width) on hip fracture risk in a Spanish population was assessed in a c
ross-sectional study. All parameters were determined by dual-energy X-ray a
bsorptiometry. There were 411 patients (116 men, 295 women; aged 60-90 year
s) with hip fractures in whom measurements were taken in the contralateral
hip. Controls were 545 persons (235 men, 310 women; aged 60-90 years) who p
articipated in a previous study on BMD in a healthy Spanish population. Fem
oral neck BMD was significantly lower, and neck-shaft angle and mean femora
l neck width significantly higher, in fracture cases than in controls. The
logistic regression analysis adjusted by age, height and weight showed that
a decrease of 1 standard deviation (SD) in femoral neck BMD was associated
with an odds ratio of hip fracture of 4.52 [95% confidence interval (CT) 2
.93 to 6.96] in men and 4.45 (95% CI 3.11 to 6.36) in women; an increase of
1 SD in neck-shaft angle of 2.45 (95% CI 1.73 to 3.45) in men and 3.48 (95
% CI 2.61 to 4.65) in women; and an increase of 1 SD in mean femoral neck w
idth of 2.15 (95% CI 1.55 to 2.98) in men and 2.40 (95% CI 1.79 to 3.22) in
women. The use of a combination of femoral BMD and geometric parameters of
the femoral neck except for hip axis length may improve hip fracture risk
prediction allowing a better therapeutic strategy for hip fracture preventi
on.