Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
[Bone mineral density in a population with severe infantile cerebral palsy]
A Tatay Díaz1, D M Farrington, F J Downey Carmona
1Sección de Ortopedia Infantil, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. angtatay@telefonica.net
Insights
Children and adolescents with infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) have significantly lower bone mineral density (BMD) than healthy peers. This bone density deficit is more pronounced in severe ICP cases (GMFCS Group V).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
Context:
- Infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) significantly impacts motor function and development.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment is crucial for understanding skeletal health in pediatric populations.
- Limited data exists on BMD in children and adolescents with severe ICP (GMFCS Groups IV-V).
Purpose:
- To quantify BMD in children and adolescents with moderate to severe ICP.
- To compare BMD values in ICP patients with a healthy control population.
- To investigate the relationship between ICP severity (GMFCS) and BMD.
Summary:
- A prognostic case-control study assessed BMD in 69 children and adolescents (2-18 years) with ICP (GMFCS Groups IV-V).
- BMD measurements were taken at the distal femur.
- Results showed significantly lower BMD in ICP patients compared to reference levels, with Group V exhibiting the lowest values.
Impact:
- Findings highlight a critical deficit in bone acquisition for children with ICP, deviating from typical development.
- This research underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve bone health in this vulnerable population.
- Results provide essential data for clinical management and future research on osteoporosis prevention in ICP.
Objective:
To determine the bone mineral density (BMD) values in children and adolescents with moderate and severe infantile cerebral palsy (ICP) in our catchment area, and compare these values with a healthy population.
Material And Method:
A prognostic study of cases and controls for the assessment of BMD in patients from 2 to 18 years old with infantile cerebral palsy belonging to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) Groups IV and V. The BMD measurements were performed at distal femur level, dividing this region into 3 areas following the forearm protocol.
Results:
The BMD for each of the three areas studied results in the final sample of 69 patients were much lower than the reference levels. There was a statistically significant difference (P<.05) between the BMD values in the two sub-groups studied.
Discussion:
The greater the involvement, from a neurological point of view, in patients classified as Group V shows a very low BMD compared to patients of similar sex and age. The acquisition of bone capital in patients with ICP does not follow the normal pattern of the healthy population.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...