Regional apparent density correlations within the proximal humerus

BACKGROUND: Bone quality influences humeral implant selection for shoulder arthroplasty. However, little is known about how well bone near the humeral resection represents more distal cancellous bone. This investigation aimed to quantify the correlations between the apparent density of sites near the humeral head resection plane and cancellous sites throughout the metaphysis. METHODS: Using computed tomography data from 98 subjects, apparent bone density was quantified in 65 regions throughout the proximal humerus. Pearson's correlation coefficient was determined comparing the density between samples from the humeral resection and all supporting regions beneath the resection. Mean correlation coefficients were compared for (i) each sample region with all support regions, (ii) pooling all sample regions within a slice, and (iii) considering sample regions correlated with only the support regions in the same anatomic section. RESULTS: Stronger correlations existed for bone sampled beneath the resection (0.33 ± 0.10≤ r ≤ 0.88 ± 0.10), instead of from the resected humeral head (0.22 ± 0.10≤ r ≤ 0.66 ± 0.14). None of sample region correlated strongly with all support regions; however, strong correlations existed when sample and support regions both came from the same anatomic section. DISCUSSION: Assessments of cancellous bone quality in the proximal humerus should be made beneath the humeral resection not in the resected humeral head; and each anatomic quadrant should be assessed independently.