DEXA overestimates bone mineral density in adults with knee replacements

Abstract

We examined bone mineral density (BMD) measurements made by dual-energy-xray-absorptiometry (DEXA) taken from 100 patients (♂46/♀54, 66±6yr) who previously underwent single total-knee arthroplasty (TKA) to determine if automated software-based artifact detection (ASAD) adequately removes implant artifact from the DXA image before analysis and if potential inaccuracies could be overcome through manual artifact correction (MAC). We also sought to determine if software-based inaccuracies would result in fracture risk misclassification (Low-BMD/Osteopenia = Young-Adult T-Score < −1). Select Results: When using ASAD, limbs with implants had higher BMD (+12.0 ​± ​1.7%, p