Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bone Measurement by Conventional Radiographic Techniques

  • Chapter
Imaging Techniques in Orthopaedics

  • 235 Accesses

Abstract

Within a radiographic image of a bone there is an obvious qualitative relationship between optical density and bone tissue thickness. Experiments with stepwedge Standards have been carried out since the turn of the Century (Price 1901) and many variants of bone X-ray densitometry have been described in which attempts have been made to quantify that relationship (e.g. Colbert and Garrett 1969). The Problems, however, are almost insuperable: X-ray beams are polychromatic and vary in intensity over the film both within and between exposures; the spectrum changes as the beam penetrates the body; much of the radiation reaching the film is scatter; radiographic film varies in its characteristics between batches; and film development tends to be variable.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams P, Davies GT, Sweetnam PM (1969) Observer error and measurements of the metacarpal. Br J Radiol 42:192–197

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adams P, Davies GT, Sweetnam PM (1970) Osteoporosis and the effects of ageing on bone mass in elderly men and women. Q J Med 39: 601–615

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Armes FM, Horsman A, Bentley HB (1979) Effects of rotation on radiographic dimensions of the metacarpals. Radiography 45: 172–175

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett E, Nordin BEC (1960) The radiological diagnosis of osteoporosis. Clin Radiol 11: 166–174

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cameron JR, Sorenson J (1963) Measurement of bone mineral in vivo: an improved method. Science 142: 230–232

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen C, Rødbro P (1977) Long-term reproducibility of bone mineral content measurements. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 37: 321–323

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colbert C, Garrett C (1969) Photodensitometry of bone roent- genograms with an on-line Computer. Clin Orthop 65: 39–45

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper C, Barker DJP, Hall AJ (1985) Evaluation of the Singh index and femoral calcar width as epidemiological methods for measuring bone mass in the femoral neck. Clin Radiol 37: 123–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Currey JD, Horsman A (1981) Strength of the distal radius. In: Stokes AF (ed) Mechanical factors and the skeleton. Libbey, London, pp 91–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Dequeker J (1972) Bone loss in normal and pathological conditions. University Press, Leuven

    Google Scholar 

  • Garn SM (1970) The earlier gain and the later loss of cortical bone; in nutritional perspective. CC Thomas, Springfleld (Illinois )

    Google Scholar 

  • Garn SM, Rohmann CG, Wagner B (1967) Bone loss as a general phenomenon in man. Proc Fed Am Soc Exp Biol 26: 1729–1736

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hall MC (1961) The trabecular patterns of the neck of the femur with particular reference to changes in osteoporosis. Can Med Assoc 85: 1141–1144

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A (1976a) Bone mass. In: Nordin BEC (ed) Calcium, phosphate and magnesium metabolism. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 357–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A (1976b) Bone morphometry and densitometry. In: Nordin BEC (ed) Calcium, phosphate and magnesium metabolism. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, pp 570–578

    Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A. Kirby PA (1972) Geometrie properties of the second metacarpal. Calcif Tissue Res 10: 289–301

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Simpson M (1975) The measurement of sequential changes in cortical bone geometry. Br J Radiol 48: 471–476

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Reading DH, Connolly J, Bateman JE, Glasgow W, McLachlan MSF (1977b) Bone mass measurement using a xenon-filled multiwire proportional counter as detector. Phys Med Biol 22: 1059–1072

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Simpson M, Kirby PA, Nordin BEC (1977c) Non¬linear bone loss in oophorectomized women. Br J Radiol 50: 504–507

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Nordin BEC, Aaron J, Marshall DH (1981) Cortical and trabecular osteoporosis and their relation to fractures in the elderly. In: DeLuca HF (ed) Osteoporosis: recent advances in pathogenesis and treatment. University Park Press, Baltimore, pp 175–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Nordin BEC, Simpson M, Speed R (1982) Cortical and trabecular bone status in elderly women with femoral neck fracture. Clin Orthop 166: 143–151

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Jones M, Francis R, Nordin BEC (1983) The effect of oestrogen dose on postmenopausal bone loss. N Engl J Med 309: 1405–1407

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Marshall DH, Peacock M (1985) A stochastic model of age-related bone loss and fractures. Clin Orthop 195: 207–215

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horsman A, Armes FM, Simpson M (1986) Application of cusums to the analysis of sequential measurements of bones. Int J Math Model 7: 981–990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleerekoper M, Parfitt AM, Ellis BI (1984) Measurement of vertebral fracture rates in osteoporosis. In: Christiansen C, Arnaud CD, Nordin BEC, Parfitt AM, Peck WA, Riggs BL (eds) Osteoporosis I. Glostrup Hospital (Department of Clinical Chemistry), Glostrup (Denmark), pp 255–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Knowelden J, Buhr AJ, Dunbar O (1964) Incidence of fractures in persons over 35 years of age. A report to the MRC working party on fractures in the elderly. Br J Prev Soc Med 18: 130–141

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koch JC (1917) The laws of bone architecture. Am J Anat 21: 177–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazess RB (1984) Advances in Single- and dual-photon absorp- tiometry. In: Christiansen C, Arnaud CD, Nordin BEC, Parfitt AM, Peck WA, Riggs BL (eds) Osteoporosis I. Glostrup Hospital (Department of Clinical Chemistry), Glostrup (Denmark), pp 57–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Meema HE, Meema S (1969) Cortical bone mineral density versus cortical thickness in the diagnosis of osteoporosis: a roentgenologic-densitometric study. J Am Geriat Soc 17: 120–141

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meema HE, Schatz DL (1970) Simple radiologic demonstration of cortical bone loss in thyrotoxicosis. Radiology 9 7: 9–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan DB (1973) Ageing and osteoporosis, in particular spinal osteoporosis. Clin Endoer Metab 2: 187–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Newton-John HF, Morgan DB (1968) Osteoporosis; disease or senescence ? Lancet 1: 232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordin BEC (1973) Metabolie bone and stone disease. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordin BEC, Horsman A, Marshall DH, Simpson M, Waterhouse GM (1979) Calcium requirement and calcium therapy. Clin Orthop 140: 216–239

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nordin BEC, Horsman A, Crilly RG, Marshall DH, Simpson M (1980) Treatment of spinal osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Br Med J 280: 451–454

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price WA (1901) The science of dental radiology. Dent Cadmos 43: 483

    Google Scholar 

  • Recker RR, Saville PD, Heaney RP (1977) Sex hormones or calcium supplements diminish postmenopausal bone loss. Nebr State Med J 62: 42

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh M, Nagrath AR, Maini PS (1970) Changes in trabecular pattern of the upper end of the femur as an index of osteoporosis. J Bone Jt Surg [Am] 52: 457–467

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh M, Riggs BL, Beabout JW, Jowsey J (1972) Femoral trabecular pattern index for evaluation of spinal osteoporosis. Ann Intern Med 77: 63–67

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Virtama P, Helela T (1969) Radiographic measurements of cortical bone. Variations in a normal population between 1–90 years of age. Acta Radiol [Suppl] (Stockh) 293

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. A. Horsman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Salford Health Authority, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Manchester, Clinical Sciences Building, Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford, M6 8HD, UK

    C. S. B. Galasko MSc, ChM, FRCS (Eng), FRCS (Ed) (Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Manchester, Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon) (Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Manchester, Honorary Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon)

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Manchester, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 3 9PT, UK

    I. Isherwood MD, FRCP, FRCR, FFR RSCI (Hon) (Professor of Diagnostic Radiology) (Professor of Diagnostic Radiology)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Horsman, A. (1989). Bone Measurement by Conventional Radiographic Techniques. In: Galasko, C.S.B., Isherwood, I. (eds) Imaging Techniques in Orthopaedics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1640-0_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-1640-0_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-1642-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-1640-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation