Summary
Measurements of bone mineral content in the calcaneum were made by gamma-absorptiometry in 77 patients with ankle fractures treated by operation, and compared with the calcaneal osteoporosis index [1]. The index was calculated from plain lateral radiographs of the calcaneum. The bone mineral measurements showed a wide range, but there was only a narrow range of the index with exclusively high values. There was a weak correlation between the calcaneal index and the bone mineral content in the injured ankles, but no or only a very poor correlation in the uninjured ankles. We also found no correlation between the decline in index and loss of mineral content in the injured ankles.
Résumé
Des mesures par gamma-absorptiométrie du contenu minéral osseux (CMO) du calcanéum ont été effectuées chez 77 patients opérés de fractures du cou-de-pied et comparées à l'index d'ostéoporose du calcanéum, calculé à l'aide de simples radiographies de profil. Bien que les mesures du CMO aient été largement réparties, l'index d'ostéoporose du calcanéum n'a révélé qu'une étroite répartition avec seulement des taux très élevés. Nous n'avons trouvé qu'une faible corrélation entre l'index du calcanéum et le CMO du côté fracturé, mais pas de corrélation ou une corrélation très faible du côté opposé. Il n'y a pas non plus de corrélation entre la diminution de l'index du calcanéum et la perte du CMO du côté atteint. En conclusion, l'index d'ostéoporose ne permet pas de déterminer le CMO du calcanéum, ni de détecter les ostéoporoses post-traumatiques.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aggarwal ND, Singh GD, Aggarwal R, Kaur RP, Thapar SP (1986) A survey of osteoporosis using the calcaneum as an index. Int Orthop 10: 147–153
Ahl T, Sjöberg HE, Dalén N (1988) Bone mineral content in the calcaneus after ankle fracture. Acta Orthop Scand 59: 173–175
Cedell CA (1967) Supination-outward rotation injuries of the ankle. A clinical and roentgenological study with special reference to the operative treatment. Acta Orthop Scand [Suppl] 110
Christiansen C, Rödbro P (1977) Long-term reproducibility of bone mineral content measurements. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 37: 321–323
Dalén N, Jacobson B (1974) Bone mineral assay: choice of measuring sites. Invest Radiol 9: 174–185
Dalén N, Lamke B (1974) Grading of osteoporosis by skeletal roentgenology and bone scanning. Acta Radiol 15: 177–186
Eriksson SA, Widhe TL (1988) Bone mass in women with hip fracture. Acta Orthop Scand 59: 19–23
Hubsch P, Kocanda H, Youssefzadeh S, Schneider B, Kainberger F, Seidl G, Kurtaran A, Gruber S (1992) Comparison of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry of the proximal femur with morphologic data. Acta Radiol 33: 477–481
Jhamaria NL, Lal KB, Udawat M, Banerji P, Kabra SG (1983) The trabecular pattern of the calcaneum as an index of osteoporosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 65: 195–198
Nilsson BE (1966) Post-traumatic osteopenia. A quantitative study of the bone mineral mass in the femur following fracture of the tibia in man using americium 241 as a photon source. Acta Orthop Scand 37 [Suppl 91]: 1–55
Sartoris DJ, Sommer FG, Marcus R, Madvig P (1985) Bone mineral density in the femoral neck. Quantitative assessment using dual energy projection radiography. AJR 144: 605–611
Lips T, Taconis WK, van Ginkel FC, Netelenbos J (1984) Radiologic morphometry in patients with femoral neck fractures and elderly control subjects. Clin Orthop 183: 64–70
Singh M, Nagrath AR, Maini PS (1970) Changes in the trabecular patterns of the upper end of the femur as an index of osteoporosis. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 52: 457–467
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ahl, T., Dalén, N., Nilsson, H. et al. Trabecular patterns of the calcaneum as an index of osteoporosis. International Orthopaedics 17, 266–268 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194193
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00194193