Normative data for calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation among children and adolescents from Colombia: the FUPRECOL Study

Abstract

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) has been found to be a safe and reliable method for evaluating bone mineral density (BMD). Using calcaneal QUS techniques, the current study contributes to remedying this gap in the literature by establishing normative data among children and adolescents from Colombia. Minimal data on BMD changes are available from populations in developing countries. BMD reference values for children and adolescents have not been published for a Latin-American population. The aim of this study was to establish a normal reference range of calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) in Colombian children and adolescents with ages ranging from 9 to 17.9 years.