The Measurement of Bone Mineral Density of Bilateral Proximal Humerus - Using DXA in Korean Patients with Unilateral Rotator Cuff Tear -

INTRODUCTION Osteopenic or osteoporotic bone changes of proximal humerus may cause fracture or pull out of suture anchors during rotator cuff repair surgery[1], thereby compromising the success of repair. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most popular technique to measure the general bone mineral density (BMD), especially at the hip and lumbar spine. However, there is wide variation of the BMD when measured at the different skeletal sites[2]. The purpose of the current study was (1) to evaluate and compare the BMD of bilateral proximal humerus in patients with unilateral rotator cuff tear (RCT), (2) to assess the relationship between the BMD of hip and lumbar spine measured by conventional DXA and that of proximal humerus, (3) to assess the correlation between 10-year probability of hip fracture and a major osteoporotic fracture calculated by FRAX tool (WHO Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) and BMD of the proximal humerus, and (4) to assess clinical factors affecting BMD of proximal humerus.