ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In this study, we examined the incidence of osteoporosis and the related factors in distal radius fractures (DRFs) caused by minor trauma, as well as the necessity of a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty patients, who had their BMD measured after DRFs caused by minor trauma, were enrolled in this study. The BMD was measured at the lumbar spine and proximal femur by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD values were categorized as normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis by the WHO T-score criteria and each incidence was investigated. The BMD values were compared with the change of age and among age-based groups. The relationship between the BMD and factors such as age, gender, body mass index, or AO classifi cation were assessed. The agreement in BMD values between the lumbar spine and proximal femur was evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of osteoporosis in DFRs by minor trauma was 74%. The minimum BMD in the DRFs had a negative correlation with age. Signifi cant differences in the BMD values were observed between the groups divided by the 10-year-old intervals (p<0.001) but the differences in the groups aged over 60 were signifi cantly lower than those under the age of 60 (p<0.001). There was a close relationship between the BMD values and the patients' age (p<0.001), but not between the BMD values and the AO classifi cation (p=0.670). The simple agreement between the lumbar spine and proximal femur was 0.619, but the Kappa index was 0.305. CONCLUSION: Because the incidence of osteoporosis in the DRFs by minor trauma is relatively high, it is necessary to measure the BMD. The BMD should be measured at more than two body parts to ensure that osteoporosis accompanied by DRFs is not missed.