Abstract
The loss of bone mineral in 66 paraplegic patients has been measured in the lower femoral shaft by scanning the leg with a beam of mono-energetic radiation from 241Am. The profile of the transmitted radiation was used to determine a parameter which was related to bone mass. The bone mass of paraplegic patients was significantly lower than normal. Persistent paralysis does not lead to a continued fall in bone mass, but once it has fallen, bone mass remains constant. Soft tissues also showed a muscle/ fat ratio that was lower than normal.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Atkinson, P J & West, R R (1970). Loss of skeletal calcium in lactating women. J. Obstet. Gynaec. of Br. Commonw., 77, 555–560.
Atkinson, P J, Hancock, D A, Acharya, V N, Parsons, F M, Proctor, E A & Reed, G W (1973). Changes in skeletal mineral in patients on prolonged maintenance dialysis. Brit. Med. J., 4, 519–522.
Bassett, C A L & Becker, R O (1962). Generation of electric potentials by bone in response to mechanical stress. Science, 137, 1063–1064.
Donaldson, C L, Holley, S B, Vogel, J H, Hattner, R S, Boyers, J H & McMillan, D E (1970). Effect of prolonged bed rest on bone mineral. Metabolism, 19, 1071–1084.
Hancock, D A (1974). Radiation absorption analysis of tissue composition in vivo. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Leeds.
West, R R & Reed, G W (1970). The measurement of bone mineral in vivo by photon beam scanning. Br. J. Radiol., 886–893.
Whedon, G & Shorr, E (1957). Metabolic studies in paralytic poliomyelitis. J. Clin. Invest., 36, 941–966.
Wright, V (1965). Bone and joint changes in paraplegic men. Ann. Rheum. Dis., 24, 419–431.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hancock, D., Reed, G., Atkinson, P. et al. Bone and soft tissue changes in paraplegic patients. Spinal Cord 17, 267–271 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1979.52
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1979.52