Correlation between ultrasound parameters of calcaneus and biomechanics of proximal femoral in elderly women

Objective To discuss the correlation between quantitative ultrasound parameters of calcaneus and biomechanical properties of proximal femoral in elderly women. Methods Thirty-four elderly women with femoral neck fracture admitted to department of orthopaedics in Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2014 to June 2014 were enrolled. All patients had undergone total hip replacement surgery and the quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of calcaneus. The weight-bearing area of cancellous bone in femoral head after total hip replacement was measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and biomechanical test. The relevance of the above test results was explored. Results Speed of sound (SOS), broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA)and bone mineral density (BMD) of calcaneus were positively correlated with BMD of weight-bearing area of cancellous bone(r=0.411, P< 0.05; r=0.366, P< 0.05; r=0.495, P< 0.01). Calcaneus stiffness index and Young's Modulus of weight-bearing area of cancellous bone were correlated with BMD of weight-bearing area of cancellous bone (r=0.490, P< 0.01; r=0.483, P< 0.01).Stiffness and Young's Modulus were positively correlated (r=0.418, P< 0.05). Conclusion Stiffness of calcaneus quantitative ultrasound parameters can reflect proximal femoral biomechanics in some extent in elderly women, which has a reference value to prognosis osteoporosis of the proximal femoral fracture in elderly women.