Comparison of Radiographic Singh Index with Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Scan in Diagnosing Osteoporosis

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of radiographic Singh index (SI) with respect to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan in diagnosing osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 100 postmenopausal women in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar, from June 2019 to December 2019. We obtained right or left standard anteroposterior hip radiograph in each patient and compared its SI grade to the densitometry results obtained from the DEXA study of the corresponding hip. Results: Out of the selected patients, 7% had DEXA bone mineral density (BMD) values in normal range (T-score ≤1), 81% in osteopenic range (T-score >1.00–<2.5), and 12% in osteoporotic range (T-score ≥2.5). There was no statistically significant correlation (r = −0.108, P = 0.286) between SI grade and WHO BMD category (normal, osteopenia, or osteoporosis). There was no statistically significant correlation (r = 0.191, P = 0.057) between the SI grade and the mean absolute DEXA BMD value. There was also no statistically significant correlation (r = −0.195, P = 0.052) between SI grade and mean DEXA T-score. Conclusion: Our study found a poor correlation between radiographic SI and DEXA densitometry results. We concluded that the SI cannot be used as a substitute for DEXA study in diagnosing osteoporosis.