Wrist fracture, heel bone density and thoracic kyphosis: A case control study

Abstract

The heel bone density measured by Broadband Ultrasound Attenuation (BUA), the thoracic kyphosis measured by a Kyphometer, height, and weight were compared between 294 women over 49 years of age who sustained a wrist fracture and 294 age-matched women who had not had previous wrist, hip or spine fracture. The BUA was significantly less in the women who had wrist fracture ( p < 0.0005), though there was a considerable overlap between the two populations. The women with wrist fracture had significantly greater thoracic kyphosis ( p < 0.0005) and smaller stature ( p < 0.0005). There was no significant difference in weight. There was a significant tendency ( p < 0.0005) for women in the fracture patient group to have both poor BUA and greater kyphosis.