INTRODUCTIONDual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is currently the gold standard for the assessment of bone mineral density. Quantitative ultrasound (QUS), on the other hand, is a radiation-free alternative for the assessment of bone strength in the paediatric population. Establishing normative data for bone strength specific to the population would allow identification of children at risk of osteoporosis as a consequence of disease and its treatment. This cross-sectional study aims to establish the normal reference range for calcaneal broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) measurements in normal Singaporean children aged 6 to 12 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODSHealthy Singaporean children were randomly selected from 11 primary schools for the assessment of calcaneal BUA, using the paediatric Contact Ultrasonic Bone Analyzer (CUBA, McCue Plc, Compton, Winchester, England). The height, weight, body mass index and BUA measurements for each age group and gender were expressed as the mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean calcaneal BUA by age and gender of Singaporean children with that of children from the United Kingdom, Turkey and Taiwan.

RESULTSA total of 750 healthy Singaporean children (417 males and 333 females) aged 6 to 12 years from 11 primary schools were enrolled. The calcaneal BUA values of Turkish and white British children were not statistically different from this Singaporean cohort. However, the Singaporean calcaneal BUA measurements were significantly higher compared to the Taiwanese children.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides the first normal reference data to evaluate bone strength in Singaporean children using the paediatric Contact Ultrasonic Bone Analyzer.