Radiographic Trabecular Quantitation of Human Lumbar Vertebrae in Situ IIperiod; Relation to Bone Quantitycomma; Strength and Mineral Content lpar;Preliminary Resultsrpar;

摘要

A preliminary study was undertaken to evaluate the ability to predict bone mass, compressive bone strength and calcium, phosphorus and magnesium content or lumbar vertebrae from quantitative analysts of in situ roentgenograms. utilizing a scanning microdensitometer-analog computer method which was previously described. The study was undertaken preparatory to developing a more automated system because the current method is tedious and time consuming and, therefore, cannot be applied to large scale experimental studies in its present form. The present study included quantitative radiographic analysis of 21 roentgenograms of 13 vertebrae from five fresh cadavers. While the sample size is too small to be conclusive, the results of this preliminary study demonstrate that there is good correlation between the in situ calculated mean trabecular widths of the vertically and horizontally oriented radiographic trabecular shadows and the quantity of bone present, the compressive strength and the calcium, phosphorus and magnesium contents of the cancellous bone of the vertebrae. The correlations indicate that the wider the calculated trabecular shadows, the less the bone mass, bone strength and bone mineral present.