Bone density and quality measurement using ultrasound.

Techniques for measuring bone mineral density have been widely accepted for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. These techniques are clinically feasible, and their fracture prediction capability has been proven in numerous studies. However, it has been demonstrated that bone strength and fracture risk are affected not only by the density of bone but also by other skeletal features including bone composition and microarchitecture. Available techniques for measuring bone mineral density have some disadvantages because they offer limited ability to assess bone quality, are relatively expensive, and use ionizing radiation.