[Bone quality and fracture susceptibility]

Prevention of fractures brings about the effort to eliminate their potential causes. Osteoporosis syndrome belongs to the most frequent causes of the bone fractures. The use of densitometric methods may bring an overestimation of the bone quantity. Because of the independent contribution to mechanical resistance, the bone quality needs to be also evaluated. Qualitative changes of the bone can occur at the level of the bone as an organ, or at levels of its components--cortex, spongiosis and bone matrix. Bone quality is influenced mainly genetically; however, it can deteriorate also with age or in some diseases. Measurement of the bone quality is not yet practically accessible. Some ultrasonographic methods have a character of qualitative assessment. Osteoporosis can worsen the bone quality at different levels.