Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Wipfler, E.
Assessment of bone density in neonates by ultrasound
[ Dissertation ] Medical University of Graz; 2002. pp.
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara
- Reiterer Friedrich
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- In premature infants a postnatal temporary scarcity of bone tissue can be observed. This phenomenon is called osteopenia prematurorum (O.P.) when the scarcity of bone tissue reaches a severe degree. Osteopenia prematurorum has become a major problem in the care of premature infants, because it bears the risk of fractures, especially in babies born below 28 weeks of gestation and/or below 800 grams. To prevent severe O.P. at risk of fracture is not yet possible in all cases. The lack of diagnostic tools for the assessment of bone status in these critically ill newborn babies is one of the main reasons. Up till now, no ultimate method has been established d for the diagnosis of osteopenia in preterm infants. Only irradiating methods are available to assess the degree of bone mineralization in these babies. The exposure of preterm infants to ionizing radiation is harmful, especially in longitudinal measurements. Considering these facts neonatologists from the university clinic of pediatrie in Graz (Austria) were searching for a non-irradiating method, which could also be used in a bedside way to assess bone mineral content in preterm infants. The method they found is the Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS). This technique predicts fractures in adults suffering from severe osteoporosis and it is already becoming an established method in adults. We started this study to determine whether QUS technique can be used to assess bone status in newborn babies. (Quantitative ultrasound technique is based on the measurement of ultrasonic-wave velocity penetrating the bone.) The device we were using in the study was the Digital Bone Measurement (DBM) Sonic bone Profiler by IGEA (Carpi, Italy). This device was especially designed for newborn tiny infants and can also be applied in the incubator. As the site to measure we took the second metacarpal bone. In my paper (based on a 2 years study) the development of bone, its components and metabolites, the pathology behind the metabolic bone disease in preterms, other techniques in the assessment of bone mineral content and the approach of the ultrasonic method in the neonatal intensive care (NICU) are being described and discussed.