Broadband ultrasound attenuation of the os calcis: preliminary study

Broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) measurements of the calcaneus were performed in 87 healthy subjects and in 17 patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. In 52 normal subjects, bone mineral densities (BMD) of the lumbar spine were measured by quantitative CT (QCT), and in another group of 15 normal subjects, BMD of the lumbar spine was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BUA showed a negative significant correlation with age (r = 0.44; p < 0.001), and was more pronounced in women. A significant positive correlation of BUA in the os calcis with lumbar BMD using QCT (r = 0.53, p < 0.001) or DXA (r = 0.81; p < 0.001), was observed. We found no significant difference between osteoporotic patients (n = 17; mean BUA value: 58.4 +/- 18) and controls (n = 17; mean BUA value; 61 +/- 15). The mean coefficient of variation was high: 6%. These results suggest that BUA is not yet a valuable tool in general clinical practice and that further additional improvements are necessary in order to use it in the management of osteoporosis.