Basic and clinical evaluation of the measurement of bone resonant frequency.

A new computerized apparatus was constructed to measure the resonant frequency of human ulna in vivo with high sensitivity and reproducibility. Experimental studies using aluminum bar and dried human bone revealed the importance of the ulna being positioned parallel to the radius, approximately 90 degree flexion of the elbow joint, and minimal muscle activity in order to demonstrate maximum resonant frequency of ulna. Measurement of bone resonance in monkeys in vivo and after removal of the bone in vitro showed good agreement. Product of F (maximum resonant frequency in Hz) and L (ulnar length in cm), FL, indicating the speed of propagation of sound wave through the ulna, showed a significant positive correlation with bone mineral content/bone width (BM/BW) measured by Norland-Cameron apparatus and age-bound decline in both sexes. Patients with osteomalacia and primary hyperparathyroid bone disease tended to have higher FL values than expected from BM/BW. Two-dimensional display of FL and BM/BW thus appears to be useful in distinguishing osteoporosis from osteomalacia better than the use of BM/BW alone.