Measurment of bone mineral density at the 1/3 and 1/10 sites at the distal part of forearm and its clinic signification

Objective To analyse the regularities of bone mineral density of forearm(distal 1/3 and 1/10) and provide scientific basis for the diagnosis,treatment and prevention of OP.Method 1863 normal subjects aged 20 to 84 years was measured for BMD at the 1/3 and 1/10 sites of distal forearm by dual X-ray absorptiometry .They were divided into five year cohorts for analysis.Result Statistical results revealed peak bone density at the 1/3 site was in the 40～44 age cohort for both male and female.Peak bone mineral density at the 1/10 site was in the 30～34 age cohort for male and in the 25～29 age cohort for female.Bone composition was so different at the 1/3 and 1/10 sites at the distal part of forearm that their BMD and the prevalence rate of OP was different also.The prevalence rate of OP at the 1/10 site was higher than at the 1/3 site in female aged 45～54 years(P 0.01).Conclusion OP may be discovered more early in menopausal women by examining BMD at 1/10 site of distal forearm.Examining BMD simultaneously at 1/3 and 1/10 sites of distal forearm may overall reflect the bone mineral contant of the whole body(including cortical and trabecular bone),and contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of OP.