Densitometric analysis of the human calcaneus.

A densitometric study was performed on 50 dry calcanei to assess bone mineral density (BMD) in the constituent regions of the bone. In the lateral projection, the area with the highest BMD was the anterosuperior region, where the greatest concentration of trabeculae occurs. The areas with the least BMD were the intermediate or retrothalamic and the anteroinferior regions, where the neutral triangle is situated. In the dorsoplantar projection, a greater BMD was observed in the intermediate and middle regions, whereas the anterior region showed the lowest BMD. These results conform to the arrangement previously described for the trabecular system. It is concluded that bone densitometry, measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry, is useful for assessing trabecular architecture of the calcaneus.