Precision analysis of site-specific dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in persons with spinal cord injury and persons who are able-bodied
Date
2014-08-28
Authors
Peppler, Will
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Abstract
The purpose of this thesis project was to determine the precision error of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) derived bone mineral density (BMD) at regions of interest (ROI) that are clinically relevant to persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), and secondarily to compare the precision error between a group of persons who are able-bodied and a group of persons with chronic SCI. Over 2 visits, four DXA scans at sites of the distal femur, proximal tibia, and calcaneus were completed in 10 persons who are able-bodied and 10 persons with chronic SCI. Using forearm sub region analysis, we measured the BMD and calculated the precision error for a total of 7 ROI at these sites. Despite a lower BMD at every ROI in the group of persons with chronic SCI compared to the group of persons who are able-bodied (range, 33 – 56%), the relative precision error was similar between groups. However, there was a trend for greater precision error in persons with SCI at a whole bone ROI of the distal femur (RMS-CV of 8.40% vs. 5.63%) and a ROI of the posterior calcaneus body (RMS-CV of 3.52% vs. 1.78%) when compared to persons who are able-bodied. Further, the ROI of the posterior calcaneus body appeared to have a lower precision error in persons who are able-bodied (RMS-CV, 1.78%) than the distal femur and proximal tibia (RMS-CV range 3.26 – 5.63%). The results from this study suggest that the precision error of DXA derived BMD is similar between persons with SCI and persons who are able-bodied, and that the posterior calcaneus body may be a more precise site than the distal femur and proximal tibia.
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Keywords
spinal cord injury, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, osteoporosis, precision analysis, DXA, DEXA