ESPE Abstracts

Background: Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) is a software-based tool for analysis of DXA images to assess bone microarchitecture in the lumbar region. Several studies have addressed its value in adult population, however, little research has been done in children in which may be useful for bone evaluation during growth.

Objective: To evaluate bone density and TBS during childhood and its relationship to other variables such as bone age and height

Method: Pseudo volumetric BMD (3D BMD) was calculated based on cylindrical model proposed by Kroeger et al. (Bone Mineral, 1992). TBS assessment has been realized with a custom version of TBS (Med-Imaps SASU, France) that includes a dedicated soft tissue correction for pediatric subjects based on ex-vivo data and taking into account spine tissue thickness and acquisition mode. The LMS statistical method proposed by Cole and Green (Stat Med, 1992) was used to construct aBMD, vBMD and TBS age-related curves using R software (v2.15.3). Height, weight and BMI Z-scores were evaluated and compared to CDC (2000) standards. Bone age was evaluated according to Greulich and Pyle.

Results: Eighty boys and 86 girls ages 2.4–17.6 year were included (9.4±3.5). In both boys and girls we observed first a decreasing phase until the puberty follow by an increasing phase until 17, more pronounced in girls than boys.

Conclusion: Results are consistent with those obtained by Del Rio et al. (ICCBH 2013). We also observed a TBS negative peak between 5 and 10 years old.