Assessment of Trabecular Bone Score: a 7-year follow-up study in institutionalized adults with refractory epilepsy and intellectual disability

The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess trabecular bone scores (TBS) in institutionalized adults with refractory epilepsy and intellectual disability and to study the association of TBS and incident fractures during seven years of follow-up.

Baseline and follow-up dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) and TBS were obtained in 136 patients (83 male, mean age 44.7±15.5).

At baseline, 26 patients (19.1%) had a partially degraded microarchitecture and 26 patients (19.1%) a degraded microarchitecture. During seven years of follow-up, 80 patients (59%) sustained at least one fracture. TBS decreased significantly in non-treated patients (-0.039±0.064, p<.001), but was not associated with incident fractures.