Bone
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Comparative Study
Static histomorphometry of human iliac crest and vertebral trabecular bone: a comparative study.
We recently developed a new, rapid method for conducting static histomorphometry on large histologic sections. This method has now been applied on both iliac crest and lumbar vertebral bone to compare the age-related changes at these two skeletal sites and to investigate the correlation between the histomorphometric measures at the iliac crest and the vertebral body. The material comprised matched sets of unilateral transiliac crest bone biopsies and lumbar vertebral bodies (L-2) from 24 women (19-96 years) and 24 men (23-95 years) selected from a larger autopsy material. ⋯ Trabecular bone volume showed a correlation coefficient of r = 0.59. It is concluded that static histomorphometry performed on one skeletal site does not automatically predict static histomorphometric measures at another skeletal site. Therefore, it is recommended that static histomorphometry be performed at the skeletal site of interest-if at all possible.