Slight Abduction/Adduction Deviations in Femur Positioning for Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry are Inconsequential
Received 16 July 2009; received in revised form 8 September 2009; accepted 9 September 2009. published online 30 November 2009.
Abstract
Straight femur alignment during dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) acquisition is assumed to help ensure accurate bone mineral density (BMD) measurement. Use of bilateral femur positioners may not result in straight femur alignment. To assess the effect of a bilateral femur positioner on DXA results, we compared a standard fixed-width bilateral femur positioner with an adjustable-width positioner that allowed for straight femur alignment. BMD values obtained from the adjustable-width bilateral femur positioner were highly correlated (R2=0.98–0.99) with those obtained using a fixed-width positioner. The mean bias in BMD between the fixed- and adjustable-width positioner was low (−0.001 to +0.006g/cm2) at all proximal femur regions of interest. In this study, the use of a fixed-width bilateral femur positioner and associated deviations in femur alignment have little consequence on BMD measurement.
1Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
2Osteoporosis Clinical Center and Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
Address correspondence to: Neil Binkley, MD, Osteoporosis Clinical Center and Research Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2870 University Avenue, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53705.
ABSTRACT