[Absolute risk for fracture and WHO guideline. Fracture risk assessment by quantitative ultrasound of bone ; its advantage and disadvantage]

Abstract

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) of bone is a radiation-free technique that measures bone mass. Therefore QUS machines can be operated anywhere and by anyone without any medical license in Japan. However, reproducibility of QUS is relatively low and only peripheral bone can be measured. Retrospective and prospective studies have suggested that low-bone ultrasound of the calcaneus is associated with an increased risk for hip, especially for trochanteric factures, but it is inferior to the association between bone mineral density measured at the hip and hip fractures. QUS is a valid and cost-effective tool to assess fracture risk.