ABSTRACT
Bone is constantly renovated through the dynamic process of bone formation and resorption. Disequilibrium between periosteal bone formation and endosteal bone resorption is proposed to be the underlying mechanism for osteoporosis (Seeman, 2007). Recently it has been observed that the decrease in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in adulthood is compensated by adaptations in bone geometry to maintain structural integrity and strength. Beck et al. (2000) using hip structural analysis (HSA), observed an age-related decline in aBMD at the proximal femur with a reduced age-related loss in section modulus (Z) due to a linear compensation in subperiosteal expansion. This suggests that although bone mass is lost, mechanical strength may be maintained through geometric adaptation. Although hip bone fragility and related fractures are largely experienced during adulthood, this disease has paediatric antecedents (Faulkner and Bailey, 2007). Thus it is important to understand potential childhood and adolescent mechanisms that may influence osteoporosis development.
