Age-dependence of bone material quality shown by the measurement of frequency of resonance in the ulna

In women before and after the age of peak bone mass, identical values of bone mineral density (BMD) can be obtained. However, there is a much higher incidence of osteoporotic fractures in older women. We investigated whether a deterioration of bone material quality with increasing age might contribute to this phenomenon. Material properties of bone tissue can be characterized by the modulus of elasticity, which is correlated to the square of sound transmission velocity. In this study, sound transmission velocity was determined in cortical bone by measuring the frequency of resonance in the ulna in the direction of the bone's longitudinal axis and correcting the values by multiplying by ulna…