Assessment of bone mineral densitometry in the diagnosis of the causes of fragility fracture

Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease and is usually diagnosed when fragility fracture occurs. This type of fracture occurs with minimal trauma، such as falling from standing position. Common fracture sites include the spine، hip، forearm and proximal humorous. This study investigated the number and incidence of fragility fractures and prevalence of secondary osteoporosis. This cross-sectional study included patients admitted to Shariati Hospital in Tehran، with diagnosis of fragility fracture in the orthopedic ward. Inclusion criteria included single fracture caused by low-energy force، in the patients of more than 45 years of age and performance of bone densitometry. 100 patients entered into the study and we used a check-list for every patient to record site and underlying mechanisms of fracture and results of bone densitometry for confirmation of the diagnosis. Based on the results of bone densitometry and endocrinology consultation we started appropriate drug therapy. We used SPSS 17 for data analysis. P<0. 05 was considered significant. One hundred patients with various fractures and mean age of 70. 25±10. 38 years were entered into the study. 55% of patients were women. 16 cases had previous fractures. 2 patients had history of fracture in their first degree relatives. 13% of the patients had used medication for osteoporosis. The patients were divided into three groups based on T-Score: (>-1= normal)، (-1-2. 5= osteopenic)، (< -2. 5= osteoporotic). Group 2 consisted of 48 and group 1 included 47 patients. Only 5 patients were in the normal group. 14% of the patients had the Z-core≤-2، among them 12 patients were in the osteoporotic group. In general parameters of BMD such as T-Score and Z-Score can be highly valuable in the diagnosis of fragility fracture. Z-Score also can determine the role of secondary factors in the development of osteoporosis. This represents the value of this criterion in the treatment of secondary causes of osteoporosis and prevention of subsequent fractures.