A radiological study on the trabecular pattern in the upper end of the femur in post-menopausal women.

OBJECTIVE Anatomically, the upper end of the femur is a common site for osteoporosis. Therefore, The trabecular pattern in the upper end of femur is analyzed on the basis of the presence or absence, the relative number and density of the trabeculae, trabecular group and also by the grading of trabeculae. The present study was undertaken to identify the trabecular pattern in the upper end of the femur radiographically in postmenopausal women and to establish that the changes in the trabecular pattern can be used for the diagnosis and the grading of osteoporosis. While osteoporosis is observed in both elderly men and women, its prevalence is much higher in post-menopausal women. The validated data from this study will be of use to all the clinicians to recognize the trabecular patterns and it will possibly help them in detecting osteoporosis and in limiting its progress in its early stages. METHOD Two hundred frontal projection pelvis radiographs of women who were between 18-100 years of age were studied during 2006-2007. In this study, an attempt was made to test the presence, pattern and the grading of the trabecular pattern in pre and post-menopausal females and to find out the influence of the post menopausal age on the trabecular patterns. All the readings were tabulated and subjected to analysis. RESULTS The distribution of the grading of the trabecular pattern in the upper end of the femur on the left and right sides for the severity of osteoporosis showed that as the number of years increased after menopause, the grading progressed from Grade N (Normal) to Grade A to Grade B to Grade C. CONCLUSION This study will be useful for anatomists, radiologists and clinicians for recognizing the trabecular pattern and it will possibly help them in detecting osteoporosis and in limiting its progress in its early stages.