The Study of Short –Term Precision of Calcaneal Quantitative Ultrasound (Achilles Express)

ABSTRACT

Background and objective:        Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry  is regarded as reference method for bone density assessment.  Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been introduced as an alternative technology to bone densitometry. To study short-term precision (coefficient of variation; CV%) and the intra- and inter-observer reliability of QUS in measuring bone mineral density of the calcaneus.Methods:   This study is cross-sectional descriptive study.  Subjects were 20 persons (10woman ,10 man )in the age group between 20-70 years olds.Results Short-term precision of SOS ,BUA ,SI showed by coefficient of variation (CV%) were  0.99 ,6.42 ,6.27 respectively.  The correlation coefficient (r) for SOS, BUA, SI between the 1st and 2nd observer was 0.821, 0.755 and 0.861 respectively (p