In order to investigate which method of measuring bone mineral content is best, a study was performed in which a total of 59 bone samples were taken from the humerus, radius, and ulna of 14 female cadaver subjects.  Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner was used to determine the bone mineral content and projected area of each sample.  The ash weight ratio was calculated from the measured bone mineral content and the dry mass of each sample.  The volumetric bone mineral density was found by dividing the bone mineral content by the sample volume as determined by water displacement.  A linear regression analysis was performed to compare the ash weigh ratio to the three methods for reporting the bone mineral content: bone mineral content divided by specimen length g/cm, bone mineral content divided by projected area g/cm², or bone mineral content divided by specimen volume g/cm³.  The volumetric representation was suggested as the best representation of bone mineralization due to its correlation with ash weight ratio and ability to indicate the level of porosity, or osteoporosis, in the cadaveric specimen.

REFERENCES:

Duma, S.M., Ryan, L.P., Crandall, J.R., "Determination of Bone Mineral Content in Cadaveric Test Specimens," Proceedings of the 26th International Workshop on Human Subjects for Biomechanical Research, Tempe, Arizona, November, 1998.

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