DOS 2016

· DOS Abstracts

The intracortical accumulation of enlarged lacunae is a

key contributor to the increased cortical porosity and

trabecularization during aging

Christina M. Andreasen, Jean-Marie Delaissé, Bram C.J. van der Erden, Dorie

Birkenhäger- Frenkel, Johannes P. T. M. van Leeuwen, Ming Ding, Thomas L.

Andersen

Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, Odense

University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark,

Denmark; Clinical Cell Biology, Vejle Hospital/Lillebaelt Hospital, Institute of Regional

Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark;

Laboratory for Calcium

and Bone Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,

The

Netherlands;

Laboratory for Calcium and Bone Metabolism, Department of Internal

Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,

The Netherlands; Laboratory for Calcium and

Bone Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam,

The

Netherlands; Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Orthopedic Research Laboratory,

Odense University Hospital, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern

Denmark, Denmark; Clinical Cell Biology, Vejle Hospital/Lillebaelt Hospital, Institute of

Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Background:

In order to improve treatment of the patients we need to enhance our

understanding of the intracortical bone remodeling.

Purpose / Aim of Study:

To investigate the characteristics of the intracortical pores

contributing to the increased cortical porosity and trabecularization during aging.

Materials and Methods:

A histomorphometric analysis of the intracortical pores was

performed on sections from transiliac bone specimens from 35 women (16-78 years)

undergoing forensic examination due to a sudden unexpected death.

Findings / Results:

The bone specimens had a statistically significant age-dependent

increase in cortical porosity (p<0.05) and mean pore diameter (p<0.05), and a reduction

in cortical thickness (p<0.01). The analysis included in total 3969 intracortical pores:

68.3% of these pores were refilled osteons with a quiescent surface, 8.8% were asym-

metrically refilled osteons with both a quiescent and eroded surface, 6.5% had only erod-

ed surfaces and no osteoid surfaces, 7.0% had osteoid surfaces, while 5.9% were refilled

osteons with extensive erosions widening the previously quiescent pores. In 34.8% of

the latter pores, the widening resulted in the merge of two or more previously quiescent

pores, forming enlarged irregular shaped lacunae. Although the widened pores and the

formed lacunae only account for 5.9% and 2.1% of the pores, they on average con-

tribute to 44.4±22.1% and 30.3±23.3% of the cortical porosity. These two types of

pores showed a statistically significant age-dependent increase in their contribution to

the cortical porosity (p<0.001) and pore density (p<0.01), while the pores with osteoid

surfaces showed an age- dependent decrease (p<0.01).

Conclusions:

Collectively, this study supports that the accumulation of widened previ-

ously quiescent pores and lacunae contributes to the increased cortical porosity during

aging.

No conflicts of interest reported