Structural alterations during fracture healing lead to void spaces developing in surrounding bone microarchitecture
Authors' conclusion
This study suggests that there are adverse changes in bone microarchitecture during fracture healing, despite the preservation of overall Tt.BMD and BV/TV in the same region. Reduced grip strength is correlated with more severe void space formation, but the mechanistic relationship requires further exploration.
Study context
- Population
- Participants aged 18–79 yr (21 female, 5 male) with conservatively-treated distal radius fractures
- Participants
- 26 participants
- Outcome
- Void space volume fraction (VS/TV) at the distal radius by HR-pQCT
- Follow-up
- Wk 1 to 52 post-fracture
Methodological detailslongitudinal high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) imaging, 6 study visits post-fracture
- Longitudinal HR-pQCT imaging
- 6 study visits post-fracture
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Median VS/TV at start of follow-up (range)
1.0%
0.6%–9.0%
Median VS/TV at end of follow-up (range)
5.5%
2.5%–12.4%
Increase in median VS/TV over follow-up
5-fold
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Tt.BMD and BV/TV · wk 1 to 52 post-fracture
- Tt.BMD and BV/TV did not significantly change
Relative grip strength after cast removal vs final VS/TV
- Correlation (⍴)
- ⍴ = −0.63, p = .02
- Significant inverse correlation
Relative grip strength vs cumulative expansion of new void space during healing
- Correlation (R)
- R = −0.67, p <.01
- Significant inverse correlation
Relative grip strength vs age or patient rated wrist evaluation (PRWE)
- No significant associations with age or PRWE
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →