[Studies of the effect of ischemia of the legs on the degree of osteoporosis of the femur and tibia using the cortex-shaft index].

On the basis of arteriographs in 98 patients with chronic arterial ischemia of lower limbs, degree of osteoporosis was determined in symmetrical femoral and tibial bones using cortical index and statistical calculations. The study demonstrates similar level of mineralization of the examined bones in limbs with similar degree of ischemia. In patients with more pronounced unilateral osteoporotic changes more severe obliterations of the arteries was observed in the respective limb as compared with the opposite limb. The observed differences in cortical index values are statistically significant. Moreover chronic ischemia diminishes the correlation between cortical index and age. The study indicates, that chronic bone ischemia could play a role in the pathomechanism of local osteoporosis.