A. Goulding et al., Bone mineral density and body composition in boys with distal. forearm fractures: A dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry study, J PEDIAT, 139(4), 2001, pp. 509-515
Objective: To determine whether boys with distal forearm fractures differ f
rom fracture-free control subjects in bone mineral density (BMD) or body co
mposition.
Study design: A case-control study of 100 patients with fractures (aged 3 t
o 19 years) and 100 age-matched fracture-free control subjects was conducte
d. Weight, height, and body mass index were measured anthropometrically. BM
D values and body composition were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorpti
ometry.
Results: More patients than control subjects (36 vs 14) were overweight (bo
dy mass index > 85th percentile for age, P < .001). Patients had lower area
l (a BMD) and volumetric (BMAD) bone mineral density values and lower bone
mineral content but more fat and less lean tissue than fracture-free contro
l subjects. The ratios (95% Cls) for all case patients/control subjects in
age and weight-adjusted data were ultradistal radius a BMD 0.94 (0.91-0.97)
; 33% radius a BMD 0.96 (0.93-0.98) and BMAD 0.95 (0.91-0.99); spinal L2-4
BMD 0.92 (0.89-0.95) and BMAD 0.92 (0.89-0.94); femoral neck a BMD 0.95 (0.
92-0.98) and BNL-XD 0.95 (0.91-0.98); total body a BMD 0.97 (0.96-0.99), Ca
t mass 1.14 (1.04-1.24), lean mass 0.96 (0.93-0.99), and total body bone mi
neral content 0.94 (0.91-0.97).
Conclusions: Our results support the view that low BMC, a BMD, and BMAD val
ues and high adiposity are associated with increased risk of distal forearm
fracture in boys. This is a concern, given the Increasing levels of obesit
y in children today.