ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BINDEX® ULTRASOUND AND DXA BONE PARAMETERS

Abstract

Study Design. Observational analytic cohort study The Bindex® device is a quantitative ultrasound device that calculates cortical thickness of the tibia and provides a density index (DI), which is an estimate of hip bone mineral density (BMD). This study assessed intra- and inter-session reliability of the Bindex® cortical thickness and DI measures at the proximal, mid, and distal tibia in young, physically active women at risk of bone stress injury. Our results indicate within session and between session agreement was good to excellent for tibia cortical thickness and DI measures, with ICC values ranging from .77 to .990. Associations between the Bindex® DI measures and BMD measures by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were assessed, as well as associations between Bindex® cortical thickness measures and hip structural characteristic measured by DXA. Moderate correlations were found between the DI and whole-body BMD, femoral neck BMD, and total BMD, with ICC values ranging from .504 to .685. Associations between Bindex® derived measures and DXA measures were strongest at the proximal tibia with ICC values from .547 to .713. The results show that the Bindex® device is reliable within and across measurement sessions. With further study, the Bindex® device may be used in a young, physically active female population as s screening tool of bone health characteristics.