Semi-automated approach for the evaluation of osteoporosis with forearm radiographs

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder which leads to bone mineral loss and fracture of bone. Its mainly cause to elderly population and postmenopausal women. Bone mineral density (BMD) is related to bone mineral loss and it is measured by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) which is currently available instrument for the measurement of BMD. The main objective of the study includes measurement of cortical thickness in south Indian women population for the evaluation of osteoporosis. The study was concluded with the variable women population (n=25) age range from 25 to 81 years (Mean ± SD age = 48.64 ± 17.13 years). The cortical thickness and percentage cortical thickness of the second metacarpal region of the right forearm were measured. The standard protocol was followed with DXA output and comparison was made accordingly. The semi-automated approach was carried out to measure the bone mass indices. The correlation matrix for a different variable with N-BMD and T-BMD was obtained. Similarly, the correlation matrix of post menopausal women (n=14) and total women (n=25) with N-BMD and T-BMD was obtained with the significance level of (p<;0.01) with Mc-CT and Mc-CT (%). The result suggests that cortical thickness of the metacarpal is the better region for the evaluation of osteoporosis and the published semi-automated approach can be used as a screening tool which will be effective for rural Indian population.