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Summary: The pathogenesis for low-trauma wrist fractures in men is not fully understood. This study found that these men had evidence of significantly higher bone turnover compared with control subjects. Bone turnover markers were negative predictors of bone mineral density and were a predictor of fracture. Introduction: Men with distal forearm fractures have reduced bone density, an increased risk of osteoporosis and of further fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not men with distal forearm fractures had evidence of altered bone turnover activity. Methods: Fifty eight men with low-trauma distal forearm fracture and 58 age-matched healthy control subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent a DXA scan of the forearm, both hips, and lumbar spine, biochemical investigations, and health questionnaires. Measurements of beta crosslaps (βCTX), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (PINP), sclerostin, Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF 23) were made. Results: Men with fracture had significantly higher PINP than controls at 39.2 ng/ml (SD 19.5) versus 33.4 ng/ml (SD13.1) (p<0.001). They also had significantly higher βCTX at 0.45 ng/ml (SD 0.21) versus 0.37 ng/ml (SD 0.17) (p= 0.037). Fracture subjects had significantly lower aBMD and PINP was a negative predictor of aBMD at the total hip and βCTX a negative predictor of forearm aBMD. Sclerostin was a positive predictor of aBMD at the lumbar spine and hip sites. Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) at 37nmol/L (SD 15.0) was lower in fracture cohort compared to 47.9 nmol/L (SD 19.2) (p=0.001) in control. Multiple regression revealed that the best model for prediction of fracture included SHBG, P1NP, and ultra-distal forearm aBMD. The likelihood of distal forearm fracture was decreased by 5.1% for each nmol/L increase in SHBH and by 1.4% for every mg/cm2 increase in ultra-distal forearm aBMD, but increased by 6.1 % for every ng/ml increase in P1NP. Men in the highest quartile of PINP had a significantly greater likelihood of distal forearm fracture than those in the lowest quartile. Conclusion: The fracture group had significantly higher PINP and βCTX compared with the control group, and these markers were negative predictors of aBMD at the total hip and forearm sites, respectively. Sclerostin was a positive predictor of the variance of spinal and hip aBMD. Likelihood of forearm fracture was best predicted by a combination of SHBG, PINP, and ultra-distal forearm aBMD. Findings of such cross-sectional data should be treated with caution, as longitudinal studies would be required to confirm or refute them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The pathogenesis of low trauma wrist fractures in men is not fully understood. This study found that these men have lower bone mineral density at the forearm itself, as well as the hip and spine, and has shown that forearm bone mineral density is the best predictor of wrist fracture. Introduction: Men with distal forearm fractures have reduced bone density at the lumbar spine and hip sites, an increased risk of osteoporosis and a higher incidence of further fractures. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate whether or not there is a regional loss of bone mineral density (BMD) at the forearm between men with and without distal forearm fractures. Methods: Sixty-one men with low trauma distal forearm fracture and 59 age-matched bone healthy control subjects were recruited. All subjects underwent a DXA scan of forearm, hip and spine, biochemical investigations, health questionnaires, SF-36v2 and Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX). The non-fractured arm was investigated in subjects with fracture and both forearms in control subjects. Results: BMD was significantly lower at the ultradistal forearm in men with fracture compared to control subjects, in both the dominant (mean (SD) 0.386 g/cm (0.049) versus 0.436 g/cm (0.054), p < 0.001) and non-dominant arm (mean (SD) 0.387 g/cm (0.060) versus 0.432 g/cm (0.061), p = 0.001). Fracture subjects also had a significantly lower BMD at hip and spine sites compared with control subjects. Logistic regression analysis showed that the best predictor of forearm fracture was ultradistal forearm BMD (OR = 0.871 (0.805-0.943), p = 0.001), with the likelihood of fracture decreasing by 12.9% for every 0.01 g/cm increase in ultradistal forearm BMD. Conclusions: Men with low trauma distal forearm fracture have significantly lower regional BMD at the ultradistal forearm, which contributes to an increased forearm fracture risk. They also have generalised reduction in BMD, so that low trauma forearm fractures in men should be considered as indicator fractures for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]