There is evidence that bone fragility and osteoporosis in old age may have their foundation in growth as the
formation of bone tissue and the determination of bone dimensions take place in childhood and adolescence. A
great variety of chronic diseases strongly influence bone formation and mineralisation and interfere with the
interplay of bone mineral mass and bone matrix.
It has become increasingly evident that the macroscopic geometry and microscopic trabecular architecture are
important for the ability of bones to withstand stress and the likelihood of fracture since the assessment of
mineralisation alone does often not discriminate osteoporotic from non- osteoporotic individuals. The host research
centre has developed a new accurate technique for measuring macroscopic bone geometry in vivo by MR imaging
of the mid-femur, a method without any radiation-exposure, which is important when measuring children.
The project deals with the adaptation of this novel technique for the use in children. It focuses on the normal
development of bone formation and the adaptive responses in the bone geometry of the weight-bearing skeleton to
weight, height, muscle strength, pubertal stage, exercise type and nutrition regimens. Areal and reconstructed 3D-
MR-variables of mid-femur geometry of 150-200 healthy children and adolescents (age 7-18 years) will be
compared to DEXA measurements of the total body, lumbar spine and femoral neck on the same subjects.
In a second project, we aim to further develop the MRI method for its use at the femoral neck. The technique is
then planned to be used in a randomised trial examining the impact of bisphosphonates on the hip outcome in
Perthe`s disease and slipped capital upper femoral epiphysis.