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Updated: Mar 19, 2026

Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
Multiple prevalent fractures in relation to macroscopic bone architecture in patients with cystic fibrosis
Mirjam Stahl1, Christian Holfelder2, Carolin Kneppo3
1Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, University Children's Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Background:
The relative risk for bone fractures in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its relationship to macroscopic bone architecture assessed by pQCT and DXA are incompletely defined.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study of 43 CF patients (age, 17.8±6.2years), rate and location of fractures, bone mass, density, geometry, and strength of the radius as well as forearm muscle size were investigated.
Results:
The fracture rate in CF was 9.2-fold higher compared to an age-matched German control population. The probability of remaining free of any fracture in CF patients at 25years was reduced to 39.8% compared to 84.6% in controls (P<0.001). Assessment of macroscopic bone architecture by DXA and pQCT allowed the differentiation of patients with multiple prevalent fractures with a high sensitivity (up to 100%) and specificity (up to 94.3%).
Conclusions:
Bone densitometry is a useful tool for noninvasive assessment of fracture risk in CF patients.
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