Site-specific volumetric skeletal changes in women with and without a distal forearm fracture: a case–control study with a mean 7-year follow-up
Authors' conclusion
Over a mean follow-up of 7 years, postmenopausal women lose bone mineral density, associated with a decrease in cortical thickness in the forearm.
Study context
- Population
- Postmenopausal women with and without forearm fracture, peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the forearm at mean age 65 (range 44–88) years, reassessed after mean 7 (6–11) years77 cases and 79 controls analysed
- Participants
- 104 vs 99
- Exposure
- Postmenopausal women with a forearm fracture vs age-matched controls
- Casesn = 104
- Controlsn = 99reference
- Outcome
- Forearm volumetric bone and muscle changes, baseline to follow-up
- Follow-up
- Mean 7 (6-11) years
Methodological detailslongitudinal, age-matched controls, pQCT, 80 cases and 79 controls took part in reassessment; 3 cases had movement artifacts on pQCT
- Longitudinal
- Age-matched controls
- pQCT
- 80 cases and 79 controls took part in reassessment; 3 cases had movement artifacts on pQCT
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
mean 7 (6-11) years
- Bone mineral content and bone mineral density decreased irrespective of group at baseline, at the 4% and 66% level
- Cross-sectional area did not change significantly at the 4% and 66% level
- At the 66% level, periosteal circumference unchanged, endosteal circumference increased, leading to decreased cortical thickness
- Muscle area decreased; muscle density unchanged
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Events
| Outcome | Cases | Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Fracture during follow-up | 22 | 20 |
Fracture during follow-up
- High cross-sectional area and low volumetric BMD were predictive of fracture during follow-up
Original publication
Site-specific volumetric skeletal changes in women with and without a distal forearm fracture: a case–control study with a mean 7-year follow-up. Osteoporos Int. Published 20 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →