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Radiographic Cortical Thickness of the Humerus in Detecting Post-Stroke Regional Bone Loss

NCT07651306 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 65

Last updated 2026-06-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Post-stroke immobilization and reduced weight-bearing frequently lead to significant regional bone mineral density loss and asymmetry, particularly in the paretic upper extremity, which increases fracture risks. While Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for evaluating systemic bone loss, it primarily focuses on axial or lower extremity sites and lacks universal accessibility. Since routine shoulder radiographs offer an opportunistic screening tool to evaluate regional bone quality without additional radiation , this study aims to compare proximal humerus cortical bone thickness between the paretic and non-paretic sides in stroke patients and assess its correlation with systemic DXA values to determine its clinical utility.

This cross-sectional, observational study involves a retrospective data analysis of patients aged 18 and older who experienced a single unilateral stroke at least 6 months prior and present with clinical hemiparesis. Eligible participants must have concurrent standard anteroposterior shoulder radiographs and DXA measurements available from their routine clinical follow-ups. Patient demographic data, stroke characteristics, Brunnstrom stages, and systemic DXA measurements (femoral neck and lumbar spine T-scores and bone mineral density values) are systematically recorded for analysis.

Cortical bone thickness measurements are performed using ImageJ software on standard radiographs at points 10 cm and 12 cm distal to the highest point of the humerus. To ensure reliability, measurements for both the paretic and non-paretic sides are conducted independently by two researchers who are completely blinded to the DXA results. Statistical analyses, including paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests and Pearson or Spearman correlations, will be used to compare the sides and evaluate the relationship between radiographic cortical thickness and systemic bone density.

Conditions

  • Hemiparesis After Stroke
  • Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry
  • Osteoporosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Istanbul Physical Medicine Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital

    lead OTHER_GOV

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-02-22
Primary Completion
2026-06-25
Completion
2026-07-01

Countries

  • Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07651306 on ClinicalTrials.gov