Bone quality issues an matrix properties in OP cancellous bone.

There is increasing evidence nowadays that diseases or conditions, like osteoporosis (OP), which are conventionally defined in terms of bone quantity/mass, are also associated with concomitant changes at the bone matrix level. The present study examined the composition, density and mineral content of OP cancellous bone at the tissue level and the hardness values at the trabecular level to establish correlations between these variables. The results showed that changes in porosity (Bone volume/Tissue volume) are accompanied by changes in mineral content and in the hardness of individual trabeculae. In other words in OP there are both quantitative and qualitative effects that take place with the progress of this condition.