INCREASED MICROSTRUCTURAL VARIABILITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED STRUCTURAL STRENGTH BUT WITH INCREASED MEASURES OF STRUCTURAL DUCTILITY IN HUMAN VERTEBRAE

摘要

The lack of accuracy in the prediction of vertebral fracture risk from average density measurements, all external factors being equal, may be because bone mineral density (BMD) is less than a perfect surrogate for bone strength but also because strength alone may not be sufficient to fully characterize the structural failure of a vertebra. Apart from bone quantity, organization of micro-architecture would have a role in governing mechanical properties of vertebrae.