Association between Bone Mineral Density and Clinical Parameters in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Abstract

Objective: Determine the association between the bone mineral density and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with TBI included to the study. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements which determines the femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores in patients was performed via Lunar Prodigy DPX system. Clinical parameters such as types of involvements (plegia), upper-lower extremity spasticity values, presence of heterotypic ossification, ambulation levels were determined and their relations with femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores were examined with Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: In the comparison of sub groups of type of plegia (tetraplegic/hemi-paraplegic), lower extremity spasticity values [Ascworth score 0/1-2-3-4), presence of heterotopic ossification no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference was found in the femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores. On the other hand, in the subgroups determined according to ambulatory levels of the patients (confined to bed-wheelchair/ ambulated (orthesis-hand support-independent)] significant difference was observed in the femur neck T scores (p=0.044). Femur neck T scores were significantly high in ambulated patients (p=0.044). Conclusion: In TBI cases ambulation level is a factor which significantly affect bone mineral density. It is necessary to ambulate patients with potential as soon as possible and to plan alternative approaches in patient could not be ambulated.

Keywords

• Bone mineral density
• osteoporosis
• traumatic brain injury