1. Bone Mineral Density Among Individuals With Residual Lower Limb Weakness After Polio
- Author
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Beth Grill, Leah Jensen, Darren C. Rosenberg, Maria Cole, and Pamela K. Levangie
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,030506 rehabilitation ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Weakness ,Bone density ,Osteoporosis ,Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation ,Standard score ,Femoral Neck Fractures ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Bone Density ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Retrospective Studies ,Femoral neck ,Aged, 80 and over ,Bone mineral ,Muscle Weakness ,Femur Neck ,business.industry ,Rehabilitation ,Muscle weakness ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Lower Extremity ,Neurology ,Female ,Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome ,Neurology (clinical) ,medicine.symptom ,0305 other medical science ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Background Literature indicates that individuals with long-term residual lower extremity (LE) weakness after polio have decreased bone mineral density (BMD) deficiencies related to muscle weakness. Where weakness is asymmetrical, bone densitometry (BDt) measured only on the stronger LE may misclassify BMD. Objective To determine (1) whether femoral neck BMD differed from side to side in individuals with asymmetrical LE muscle weakness, and (2) the proportion of individuals at risk for underdiagnosis of low bone density or osteoporosis given unilateral assessment of the femoral neck. Design Retrospective study. Setting Outpatient postpolio center. Participants Patients >18 years old with complete relevant data. Main Outcome Measures BDt T scores, BMD categories based on standard T-score ranges, and side of LE weakness determined by a strength score. Results Forty-three subjects had at least 1 femoral neck T score and bilateral LE strength scores. Fourteen (32.5%) had BDt only on their weaker LE and 14 (32.5%) had BDt only on their stronger LE. Of the 15 subjects with BDt done on both femoral necks, T scores (mean [standard deviation]) were lower in the weaker LE (–1.73 [1.09]) than the stronger LE (–0.88 [1.0]) (P = .001). Classification of low bone density or osteoporosis was more frequent based on T scores taken on a weaker LE (48.3% and 24.1%, respectively) than from T scores from a stronger LE (41.4% and 6.9%, respectively). Conclusions In this small sample, using strong-limb T scores resulted in fewer individuals categorized as having low bone density or osteoporosis than when weak-limb T scores were used. Underestimating BMD loss may lead to undertreatment and increased risk of morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with femoral neck fractures in this high-fall-risk group. Level of Evidence III
- Published
- 2019
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