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Reference Intervals for Bone Impact Microindentation in Healthy Adults: A Multi-Centre International Study
Pamela Rufus-Membere1,2, Kara L Holloway-Kew3, Adolfo Diez-Perez4
1IMPACT- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. pamela.r@deakin.edu.au.
Calcified Tissue International
|February 2, 2023
Summary
Impact microindentation (IMI) establishes bone material strength index (BMSi) reference intervals in healthy adults. This novel technique provides crucial data for fracture prediction and understanding bone health across diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Biomaterials Science
- Osteoporosis Research
Background:
- Impact microindentation (IMI) is an emerging in vivo method for assessing bone material strength index (BMSi).
- Establishing normative data is essential for clinical application of novel bone assessment techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define healthy reference intervals for BMSi in men and women.
- To evaluate the associations between BMSi, age, sex, and areal bone mineral density (BMD).
Main Methods:
- IMI was performed on the tibial diaphysis of 479 healthy adults (197 male, 282 female; ages 25-98) across seven international research centers.
- Data were collected between 2011 and 2018.
- Statistical analyses examined relationships between BMSi, age, sex, and BMD.
Main Results:
- Unitless BMSi values ranged from 48 to 101.
- Mean BMSi was 84.4 ± 6.9 for men and 79.0 ± 9.1 for women.
- Healthy reference intervals were determined as 71.0–97.9 for men and 59.8–95.2 for women.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first healthy reference intervals for BMSi in adults.
- These data facilitate the calculation of T- and Z-scores for BMSi.
- The findings support the utility of BMSi in fracture risk assessment and population stratification.
