Bone Mineral Density and Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover During the First Year of Injury in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with bone mass loss that can be complicated by fractures, which result in further disabilities for patients. After a SCI, the body starts losing large amounts of calcium and other minerals in the urine (demineralisation). This study aimed to assess the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) during the 1st year of acute SCI in patients with neurological deficit. A total of 95 patients with acute SCI and neurological deficit were evaluated in this prospective study. Haematological investigations such as evaluation of serum calcium, serum phosphate, serum creatinine, and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were carried out. Urinary investigations such as 24-hour urinary creatinine level and excretion of calcium and phosphate in the urine were measured. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan with Hologic QDR 2000 scanner (Explorer). All of the aforementioned parameters were measured again at 3, 6, and 12 months. Serum ALP at 1-year follow up was significantly raised (p