Osteons in trabecular bone. Morphometric studies of bone formed by remodeling
Kragstrup, J.
Danish Medical Bulletin 32(6): 287-295
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0907-8916 PMID: 3908001 Document Number: 3275
Bone morphometry is a relatively young discipline, and no international society for the quantitative study of bone histology exists although workshops dealing with the subject have been held on a regular basis. As described in the present review, methods exist for determining in trabecular bone samples the thickness of bone formed at remodeling sites. Similarly, methods have been developed for estimating other parameters of bone structure and remodeling. However, several methodological problems of clinical relevance remain unsolved. Some of these have been mentioned in the previous pages but in the author's opinion problems related to sampling are among the most fundamental, and two examples are given here. Bone biopsies are most often obtained from a small area of the iliac crest. This site is easily accessible and safe but symptoms and clinical signs of a metabolic bone disease may be located to some other part of the skeleton, e.g., the lumbar vertebrae in osteoporosis. Intrα-skeletal variation of remodeling in normal and pathologic conditions should, therefore, be studied. Attempts should, furthermore, be made to assess the size of the sampling space (reference space) in studies describing changes in, for example, bone mass. An increase in volume density of trabecular bone does not necessarily indicate an increase in the absolute mass of bone since the size of the sampling space (bone + marrow) might be reduced. Estimates of the reference space may be obtained by simple volumetry in animal models and in studies of necropsy material whilst other methods should be found for use in patients.
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