[Evaluation of reproducibility and precision of ultrasonic measurements of the calcaneus for diagnosing osteopenia].

The study aimed at evaluating precision of ultrasound measurements of mineral bone density of the calcaneus, and evaluating correlation between the obtained results with those measured with single photon absorptiometry (SPA) and DEXA in different skeletal sites. In 24 healthy individuals and 44 patients with osteoporosis SOS, BUA, calcaneus stiffness index, spine bone mineral density (L2-L4), femoral neck and calcaneal bone mineral densities were measured with DEXA technique whereas BMD in distal radial bone was measured with SPA. Very good precision of ultrasound measurements--better for SOS (CV = 0.12%), worse for BUA (CV = 1.64%) due to repositioning--was achieved. Statistically significant correlation between ultrasound and DEXA measurements of BMD in calcaneus bone (r = 0.90), and significant but worse correlations with BMD measurements for the spine (r = 0.43), femoral bone neck (r = 0.53), and 1/3 radius, (r = 0.51) were achieved. Ultrasound measurements of bone mineral density have low error of repeatability and good accuracy, enabling to discriminate healthy individuals from osteoporosis patients.