Age- and site-related bone mineral densities in Korean women with a distal radius fracture compared with the reference Korean female population

Purpose: To assess age- and site-related bone mineral density (BMD) values in Korean female patients with a distal radius fracture, and to compare them with those of the community-based general Korean female population.

Methods: For this study, we recruited 54 consecutive Korean women, 50 to 79 years of age, with a distal radius fracture caused by minor trauma. We performed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans at central sites: the lumbar spine, femoral neck, trochanter, and Ward's triangle, which is a triangular area within the femoral neck. Age- and site-related BMDs were assessed and compared with those of population-based reference data for Korean women.

Results: The overall prevalence (defined as meeting the osteoporosis criteria in at least one of the earlier-described measurement areas) of osteoporosis in patients with a distal radius fracture was 57%. The site-related prevalence was 54% at Ward's triangle, 43% at the lumbar spine, 32% at the femoral neck, and 26% at the trochanter, and these values were individually statistically significantly higher than those of the general Korean female population except for the lumbar spine. In patients 50 to 59 and 70 to 79 years of age, patients' mean BMD values at the hip were statistically significantly lower than those of the reference female population of corresponding age groups, but the hip BMD differences were not statistically significant in patients 60 to 69 years of age. There were no statistically significant BMD differences measured at the lumbar spine in any age group.

Conclusions: Korean female patients with a distal radius fracture, 50 to 59 and 70 to 79 years of age, had lower BMDs at the hip than the reference Korean female population. However, no statistically significant BMD differences were found in those 60 to 69 years of age. Low BMD may have a greater impact on distal radius fracture in women younger than 60 years of age or over 70 years of age. Considering the young onset of bone loss, patients younger than 60 years of age with a distal radius fracture are a good target group for secondary prevention of osteoporosis.