The Vertebral Fracture Cascade: Etiology and Clinical Implications.

A vertebral fracture is a marker of bone fragility and is associated with a downward spiral of recurrent fractures known as the vertebral fracture cascade. Etiology of this unfortunate cascade includes bone and muscle loss from immobility, changes in spinal mechanics causing increased loading on adjacent vertebrae, and the development of an increased thoracic kyphosis (hyperkyphosis [HK]). Degenerative disc disease, common in osteoporotic patients, can also cause HK.

Measurement of Hip Geometry-Technical Background.

Conventional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images display a digital projection of the inorganic mineral mass in a scanned region. Bone mineral density software generates an average of the pixels within one or more regions. Although not used in the conventional analysis, the images also contain dimensional information limited to the plane of the image.

Fracture Risk Prediction by Non-BMD DXA Measures: the 2015 ISCD Official Positions Part 2: Trabecular Bone Score.

Bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. However, BMD explains only 60%-80% of bone strength, and a number of skeletal features other than BMD contribute to bone strength and fracture risk. Advanced imaging modalities can assess some of these skeletal features, but compared to standard DXA, these techniques have higher costs and limited accessibility.

Fracture Risk Prediction by Non-BMD DXA Measures: the 2015 ISCD Official Positions Part 1: Hip Geometry.

Bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is the current imaging procedure of choice to assess fracture risk. However, BMD is only one of the factors that explain bone strength or resistance to fracture. Other factors include bone microarchitecture and macroarchitecture.

Executive Summary of the 2015 ISCD Position Development Conference on Advanced Measures From DXA and QCT: Fracture Prediction Beyond BMD.

There have been many scientific advances in fracture risk prediction beyond bone density. The International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) convened a Position Development Conference (PDC) on the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry beyond measurement of bone mineral density for fracture risk assessment, including trabecular bone score and hip geometry measures. Previously, no guidelines for nonbone mineral density DXA measures existed.