Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To compare ultrasound propagation velocity with densitometry in the diaphyseal compact cortical bone of whole sheep metatarsals.METHODS:The transverse ultrasound velocity and bone mineral density of 5-cm-long diaphyseal bone segments were first measured. The bone segments were then divided into four groups of 15 segments each and demineralized in an aqueous 0.5 N hydrochloric acid solution for 6, 12, 24 or 36 hours. All measurements were repeated after demineralization for each time duration and the values measured before and after demineralization were compared.RESULTS:Ultrasound velocity and bone mineral density decreased with demineralization time, and most differences in the pre- and post-demineralization values within each group and between groups were significant: A moderate correlation coefficient (r=0.75956) together with a moderate agreement was determined between both post-demineralization parameters, detected by the Bland-Altman method.CONCLUSION:We conclude that both ultrasound velocity and bone mineral density decrease as a result of demineralization, thus indicating that bone mineral content is of great importance for maintaining the acoustic parameters of cortical bone, as observed for cancellous bone. Ultrasound velocity can be used to evaluate both compact cortical bone quality and bone mineral density.
Highlights
Bone tissue is a composite material that primarily consists of collagen fibers and an inorganic matrix
Due to the nature of its synthesis, bone is likely to show more variation in measurable physical and mechanical properties than typical engineering composites. Such variability is caused by several factors, such as age, gender, anatomical location, general health status, local disease and so on, all of which may affect the composition and structure of bone, its collagen and mineral contents
Bone is an anisotropic material, and the measured values of a given property commonly fall within a relatively wide range; the average of the measured values is used as a reference value
Summary
Bone tissue is a composite material that primarily consists of collagen fibers and an inorganic matrix. The mechanical properties of bone vary according to site and direction (anisotropy) and depend on the relative proportion of each component at different sites. The mineral component of bone accounts for approximately 65% of its dry mass, most of which is hydroxyapatite [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2]. As hydroxyapatite is a very prevalent component in bone, it plays an important role in ultrasound transmission through the bone, which has been well established in the literature. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), commonly known as densitometry, is the tool most frequently used to assess bone mass.
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