The microanatomy of trabecular bone in young normal and osteoporotic elderly males

Figures & data

Figure 1. Photomicrographs showing the cancellous microanatomy in undecalcified transiliac histology sections from (A) young men where the network is well interconnected and (B) elderly men where the network is atrophied (×16).

Table I.  Comparison of trabecular architecture in iliac crest bone biopsy in young men and osteoporotic elderly men.

Study groups	TBV (%)	BS (MM2/MM3)	TB TH (MCM)	TB SP (MCM)	NND (N)	NTM (N)	ND:TM (N)	TB NO (N)	TB LE (MM)
Young men
Median	25.2	3.54	120.8	279.6	40.6	44.3	0.98	48.3	90.9
Range	14.6–43.9	2.38–5.08	75.8–208.6	196.7–498.6	10.3–74.1	10.1–112.7	0.24–6.69	25.4–66.9	50.1–156.4
Elderly men
Median	10.2	1.76	95.7	849	2.1	15.8	0.13	11.1	9.1
Range	5.4–23.1	0.8–3	66.7–170.7	417.8–1998.2	0.15–14	2.6–26.6	0.01–1.19	2.1–31.4	3.2–18
P value^☆	<0.001	<0.001	<0.01	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001

^☆P values are the results of comparison between young men and osteoporotic elderly men. TBV, trabecular bone volume; BS, bone surface; TB TH, trabecular thickness; TB SP, trabecular separation; NND, node number; NTM, terminus number; ND:TM, node terminus ratio; TB NO, trabecular number; TB LE, trabecular length.

Figure 2. Pattern of trabecular bone atrophy in men with age, when depressed formation causes widespread thinning of the network, and in idiopathic osteoporosis when increased resorption causes localized perforation and network disconnection.