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Age‐related changes in iliac crest cortical width and porosity: a histomorphometric study
Author(s) -
Vedi Shobna,
Kaptoge Stephen,
Compston J. E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01356.x
Subject(s) - iliac crest , anatomy , geology , crest , porosity , paleontology , computer science , medicine , physics , geotechnical engineering , quantum mechanics
Although age‐related changes in cancellous bone structure in human are relatively well characterized, few studies have addressed changes in cortical bone. We have investigated age‐related changes in iliac crest bone biopsy specimens from 54 normal subjects, 23 men and 31 women, aged 18–90 years. A significant decrease in cortical width and area was seen ( P = 0.002 and < 0.001 respectively), with no difference between sexes. Haversian canal density increased significantly with age by approximately 9% per decade ( P = 0.032) but Haversian canal area tended to be lower, resulting in no overall age‐related difference in cortical porosity. Haversian canal area was significantly higher in the endosteal section than in the periosteal section of the cortex ( P = 0.019) but the Haversian canal density was lower, resulting in similar overall porosity in the two sections. In conclusion, our results demonstrate an age‐related decrease in iliac crest cortical width in men and women and an increase in Haversian canal density, but no overall change in cortical porosity.