Association between Bone Mineral Density and Clinical Parameters in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Objective: Determine the association between the bone mineral density and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: Twenty-two patients with TBI included to the study. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements which determines the femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores in patients was performed via Lunar Prodigy DPX system. Clinical parameters such as types of involvements (plegia), upper-lower extremity spasticity values, presence of heterotypic ossification, ambulation levels were determined and their relations with femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores were examined with Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: In the comparison of sub groups of type of plegia (tetraplegic/hemi-paraplegic), lower extremity spasticity values [Ascworth score 0/1-2-3-4), presence of heterotopic ossification no statistically significant (p>0.05) difference was found in the femur neck and L1-4 vertebrate T scores. On the other hand, in the subgroups determined according to ambulatory levels of the patients (confined to bed-wheelchair/ambulated (orthesis-hand support-independent)] significant difference was observed in the femur neck T scores (p=0.044). Femur neck T scores were significantly high in ambulated patients (p=0.044). Conclusion: In TBI cases ambulation level is a factor which significantly affect bone mineral density. It is necessary to ambulate patients with potential as soon as possible and to plan alternative approaches in patient could not be ambulated.