Bone mineral content of the spine and proximal femur in female patients with hip fracture.

Abstract

Measurement of bone density in the spine and hip by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) was performed in 36 women with hip fracture. Hip density by DPA was determined at three anatomic subregions of the hip. Comparison to normals revealed an average decrease in hip bone density by 15% below controls. Spine density measurements were not significantly different from that of controls. Correlations of hip and spine densities varied by hip subregion. This study demonstrated that bone density measurement methods and measurement at one axial site may not accurately reflect bone density at appendicular subregions.