Hounsfield unit values from CT scans may be used to predict risk of distal radial fracture

Hounsfield unit measurements acquired from diagnostic CT scans may be used to assess bone quality and help identify patients at risk of distal radial fracture, according to study results.

Using the Hounsfield unit (HU) values from CT scans of cancellous parts of the distal radius, ulnar head and capitate, researchers measured the bone mineral density (BMD) of 100 patients. The HU values of 25 men and 25 women with acute distal radial fractures evidenced on CT scans were compared with 50 age and sex-matched controls who had a CT scan performed for other symptoms.

The researchers found an inverse relationship between HU values and age for the control group. There was less association between BMD and age in fracture patients, demonstrating fracture patients had lower HU values despite their age, according to researchers.

They also discovered men and women with distal radial fractures had significantly lower BMD values at the different sites compared with the control group. HU values for optimized sensitivity and specificity for women and men were 218 and 246, respectively; HU values lower than the threshold correlated with increased chances of distal radial fracture.

“[This] novel technique ads to a surgeon’s fragility fracture diagnosis and treatment armamentarium and can potentially quickly and accurately identify patients at risk for a distal radial fracture on the basis of a single HU regional assessment from any diagnostic CT scan,” the researchers wrote.‒ by Monica Jaramillo

Disclosures: Schreiber reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Schreiber JJ, et al. J Bone Surg Am. 2015; doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.01230.