Evaluation of Trabecular Microarchitecture of Normal Osteoporotic and Osteopenic Human Vertebrae

Osteoporosis is defined by the National Institutes of Health as a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength, increasing fracture risk. Samples of vertebral cancellous bone were extracted from human cadavers from the T12 region. The comparative pre-selection of bone into the three groups was performed using the calcaneal ultrasonometry and evaluated by image analysis: microtomography, X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy e scanning electron microscopy. The results showed, for the diseased bone, degradation, reduction in the histomorfometric parameters and lower X-ray intensity. It is concluded that this characteristics indicates a validation in the assessment of fracture risk.