Transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirm that bone microstructure is similar in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients.

OBJECTIVES The objective was to confirm the finding of "Bone microstructure is similar in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients with femoral neck fracture." obtained in previous "light microscopy study", which was new and important data. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fourteen patients (5 males, 9 females) who were admitted with proximal femoral fracture following low energy trauma (patients who participated in the light microscopy study) were included. The patients were divided into two groups based on the bone mineral density (BMD) measurement, including osteopenic group (n=7, mean age 69 years; range 63 to 74 years) and osteoporotic group (n=7, mean age 74.1 years; range 67 to 78 years). Cortical and trabecular bone samples were taken from the patients who underwent endoprosthesis during partial hip arthroplasty and these samples were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy evaluations which are more sophisticated higher resolution techniques. RESULTS The mean cortical bone thickness was 3622.14 mm in osteopenic group and 2323.14 mm in osteoporotic group (p<0.005). Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy evaluations revealed similar findings for both groups. CONCLUSION Although a significant difference in cortical thickness was found between the groups, transmission and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that bone microstructure shared similar characteristics in osteopenic and osteoporotic patients with low-energy femoral neck fracture, as it was in previous light microscopy study.