Investigation of the loss of bone mineral in patients with spinal cord injury.

Thirty-six (36) spinal cord injury patients (22 tetraplegic and 14 paraplegic) had hand radiographs taken in association with bone density measurements. The cortical bone of the hand, the radius, and the ulna was found to be normal, but there was an obvious decrease in the amount of trabecular bone. There were three predominant radiographic patterns of osteopenia --generalised, juxta-articular, and cystic. The cause of this decrease in trabecular bone is not understood, although it may be related to alterations in blood flow.