Michele Bandirali MS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Carmelo Messina, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Luca Maria Sconfienza MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alberto Aliprandi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Fabio Massimo Ulivieri, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Francesco Sardanelli MD, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, Bracco Group Research grant, Bracco Group Consultant, Bayer AG Research grant, Bayer AG

To evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) for each of the two femurs in patients with scoliosis and to determine whether there is difference related with spine convexity.

We recruited 15 patients (2 males, 13 females; age 70±8 years, mean±standard deviation) with scoliosis. Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed on both femoral necks using a Hologich QDR Delphi W unit, (Apex software v 3.0.1). BMD values and T-score were obtained and compared using nonparametric statistics (Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Data are presented as mean±standard deviations.

Of the 15 patients, 8 (53%) had right convexity and 7 (47%) left convexity. BMD of the femoral necks resulted 0.694±0.168 g/cm2 on the right side and 0.678±0.158 g/cm2 on the left side, T-score -1.5±1.4 and -1.6±1.3, without significant difference (P>.257). In 14/15 patients (93%) both BMD and T-score resulted lower on the convexity side than those on the contralateral side while in the remaining patient the same values were found on the two sides for both BMD and T-score. The femoral necks showed a BMD of 0.671±0.161 g/ cm2 on the convexity side and of 0.714±0.170 g/cm2 on the contralateral side (P=.001); a T-score of -1.7±1.3 and -1.4±1.4, respectively (P=.001). The mean absolute difference between the convexity side and the contralateral side was -0.041±0.035 g/cm2 for BMD and -0.4±0.3 for T-score.

These data show significantly reduced BMD and T-score of neck femurs when measured on convexity side compared with the contralateral side.

In patients with scoliosis, femoral neck bone density should be measured only on the convexity side, in order to avoid systematic errors of overestimation.

Bandirali, M, Messina, C, Sconfienza, L, Aliprandi, A, Ulivieri, F, Sardanelli, F, Bone Density of the Two Femurs in Patients with Scoliosis: Is There Any Difference Related to Spine Convexity? Preliminary Results.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11014671.html