Abstract:

BACKGROUND: There are many methods for measuring bone density, but no study reports quality control of measurements in different degrees of osteoporosis.
OBJECTIVE: To compare short-tem precision of DPX-MD dual-energy X-ray absorptionmetry in measuring hip of different degree osteoporosis.
METHODS: According to osteoporosis degree, 20 patients were divided into normal, decreased bone mass, osteoporosis, and severe osteoporosis groups. One hip with soft tissues from corpse was provided by Laboratory of Anatomy, North Sichuan Medical College. Hip bone density of each subject was measured using DPX-MD dual-energy X-ray absorptionmetry, once a day for 5 days. The bone density was expressed as Mean±SD, and coefficient of variation was obtained by mean of different bone densities dividing standard deviation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among femoral neck, Ward’s triangle, greater trochanter, inner zone of greater trochanter, and entire hip, the coefficient of variation of the entire hip was the smallest in all subjects, suggesting the best short-term precision of the entire hip, followed by femoral neck. The coefficient of variation of Ward’s triangle was the largest. The coefficient of variation of normal group was less than decreased bone mass, osteoporosis, and severe osteoporosis groups, but normal group exhibited the best short-term precision. The coefficient of variation of corpse at each region was greater than the four groups, suggesting the worst short-term precision. Results show that there are differences in short-term precision among hip skeleton. Therefore, the entire hip region and femoral neck with little influence can be used for bone density detection during observation of clinical drug effects.