Diagnosis of Osteoporosis of the Foot in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Using Bone Densitometry

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the severity and frequency of osteoporosis of the foot in patients with diabetes mellitus using bone densitometry, and to determine whether plain radiologic evaluation can be used as a cheap and reliable screening of osteoporosis. METHOD: We studied plain X-ray including AP and lateral views of the feet of the patients. Bone densitometry studies were performed on the feet of both diabetic and age-matched control groups. RESULTS: Forefoot bone densitometry scores were significantly lower in the male diabetic group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the female diabetics had significantly lower bone densitometry scores for forefoot and hindfoot than the control group (p<0.05). Bone densitometric evaluation of the diabetic patients' feet revealed scores significantly lower than those of the controls in cases which the radiologist interpreted as normal finding in plain roentgenogram alone (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Plain radiologic studies of the feet in patients with diabetes mellitus are not effective in identifying osteoporotic change; thus, they should not be used as the screening method of diabetic foot lesions.