Regional variation of trabecular bone density, microstructure and stiffness at distal tibia postmenopausal women: an in-vivo HR-pQCT study

This study aimed to determine a spatial distribution of trabecular volume bone mineral density (vBMD), mechanical vBMD and morphological properties, and examine the contribution of regional variability of trabecular microarchitecture to mechanical competence. Four anatomic regions of trabecular boneanterior, posterior, lateral, and medial-from ten postmenopausal women were studied. Region-specific tra-becular parameters such as trabecular bone mineral density, volume fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular number, trabecular surface area, trabecular Separation, and finite element analysis of trabecular stiffness were determined based on in-vivo high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomographic (HR-pQCT)images. The regional linear regression of morphological parameters and stiffness were calculated. Significant regional Variation in trabecular stiffness of the human distal tibia was observed (P < 0. 05), with up to 29. 11% differences between the lowest (anterior) and highest (medial) regions. It was also found that there was significant relationship between tibia anterior and posterior or between tibia medial and lateral. The finite element analysis of trabecular bone and bone marrow multiple materials provides possible methods for in-vivo analysis of the mechanical and material characteristics of trabecular bone. The evaluation of regional variations in mechanical competence and trabecular specifications may allow better understanding of fracture risks in addition to other contributing factors.