Evaluation of the Singh index and femoral calcar width as epidemiological methods for measuring bone mass in the femoral neck.

Epidemiological research into the causes of osteoporosis requires a validated radiological measure of bone mass. Ashing studies were carried out on 62 excised femoral heads, and a positive correlation was demonstrated between the weight to volume ratio of the ash and two radiological indices in the contralateral femoral neck: the Singh grade and the femoral calcar width. The repeatability and right-left concordance of the Singh grading method was also assessed. It is concluded that these radiological indices will provide useful epidemiological tools for the measurement of bone mass in the proximal femur.