Ultrasound bone densitometry of the Os calcis in children and adolescents

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate reference data and to examine whether there were weight-, height-, age-, and sex-related differen ces of the quantitative ultrasound bone parameters for healthy children and adolescents. A total of 3299 healthy Caucasian children and teenagers (162 3 girls and 1676 boys), age range from 6-18 years (mean age 11.4 +/- 3.4 ye ars for boys and mean age 11.5 +/- 3.3 years for girls) were examined by qu antitative ultrasound densitometry (QUS) using the bone sonometer SAHARA (H ologic Inc., Waltham, MA, USA), a waterless, dry system. The parameters bro adband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) [dB/MHz] and speed of sound (SOS) [m/se cond] were evaluated on the right heel in relation to age, sex, weight, and height. There is no correlation between the ultrasound bone parameter SOS and age, height, and weight. BUA increases with age, height, and weight. Si gnificant differences in SOS and BUA between girls and boys were found to p robably be caused by the different onset of growth phases and the onset of puberty. SOS and BUA are influenced by changes of bone mineral density. But BUA is dependent on bone size, too. In conclusion, ultrasound bone densito metry is a useful measuring method showing the physiological bone developme nt in childhood and adolescence. The presented results can be used as refer ence data. Further studies in children with disorders influencing bone meta bolism will show in what way various patterns of osteopenia in childhood ca n be detected.