Abstract
Various methods of X-ray densitometry have already been reported for the evaluation of osteoporosis. Weight-bearing vertebral body and second metatarsal were compared with the non-weight-bearing bone of the upper extremity in the evaluation of osteopenia X-ray measurement and densitometry.
Deformity of the vertebral body was assessed by measurement of the height on the anterior edge, center and posterior edge from the 11th thoracic (Thll) to the 5th lumbar (L5) spine, to compare these with the corresponding height in the neighboring spine, expressing it as indices. This method is useful to follow the changes of the deformity of the vertebral body in patients with spinal compression fracture.
Measurement of the metatarsal was carried out by applying the microdensitometry of Inoue used on the metacarpal. The X-ray image of the second metatarsal and aluminium slope was measured and analyzed by a densitometer to obtain MTI, GSmax, GSmin and ΣGS/D. These indices, as those of the metacarpals, decrease with age, reflecting the state of the spine better. These methods consequently appear to be useful to evaluate the influence of exercise and rehabilitation on osteporosis.
