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Bone strength is preserved following bariatric surgery
Lesley M Scibora1, Henry Buchwald, Moira A Petit
1School of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 1900 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN, USA, 55455, l.scibora@stthomas.edu.
Obesity Surgery
|June 29, 2014
Summary
Bariatric surgery did not negatively impact bone strength up to 12 months post-operation, contrary to concerns based on bone mineral density measurements. This study assessed bone mechanical strength using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
- Bone Physiology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding excessive bone loss after bariatric surgery, often based on areal bone mineral density (aBMD) from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
- Previous studies using aBMD may not fully capture the impact on bone's mechanical integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on bone mechanical strength, moving beyond aBMD assessments.
- To evaluate changes in bone geometry, density, and strength following bariatric procedures.
Main Methods:
- 21 adults undergoing bariatric surgery were assessed at baseline and 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery.
- Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to measure bone geometry, density, and strength at the radius and tibia.
- Participants were stratified into tertiles based on percentage weight loss at 6 months.
Main Results:
- Significant weight and fat mass loss occurred by 6 months post-surgery across all weight loss tertiles.
- The high weight loss tertile also experienced significant fat-free mass reduction.
- Despite initial minor changes, bone strength estimates at the radius and tibia remained stable up to 12 months post-surgery, irrespective of weight loss.
- A slight increase in tibia bone strength index (SSIp) was observed at 3 months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Bariatric surgery appears to preserve bone mechanical strength up to 12 months post-operation.
- These findings contrast with some previous studies relying solely on aBMD (DXA) measurements.
- Further long-term research is recommended to validate these bone strength and geometry findings.
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