Iliac bone histomorphometry in women with hip fracture

A histomorphometric analysis was performed to evaluate the cancellous, endocortical envelope and cortical bone obtained at transiliac biopsy in 94 women with hip fracture (39 femoral neck and 55 trochanteric), aged 58-93 (mean 78.1 years), and 21 non-hip fracture women, aged 70-80 (mean 74.6 years), who underwent a bone biopsy during surgery on the hip or knee. In the cancellous envelope, bone volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular number was significantly lower in women with trochanteric fracture compared to the controls. These values were similar in women with femoral neck fracture and the controls. Eroded surface and osteoclast number at the endocortical envelope was significantly higher in both fracture groups than in controls. There were no differences in cortical thickness among the groups. The present study has concluded that trochanteric fracture is associated with low cancellous bone volume characterized by trabecular thinning and loss of trabecular plates and femoral neck fracture is not related with cancellous bone loss. Furthermore, in both fracture groups increased bone resorption at the endocortical envelope appears to be one of the important factors in cortical bone fragility.