Bone Ultrasound Velocity in Neonates With Intrauterine Growth Deficit Reflects a Growth Continuum

Abstract Both bone mass by densitometry and speed of sound (SOS) from quantitative ultrasound of the bone (QUS) are directly related to bone strength. However, reports of lower bone mass but higher SOS in neonates with intrauterine growth deficit lead to apparent contradictory conclusions on bone strength. Three groups of infants were studied: small for gestation (SGA) with birth weights ≤10th percentile for gestation and 2 control groups with appropriate birth weights (11th to 90th percentile) for gestation (AGA): matched to SGA group for gestation and birth weight, respectively. SOS was measured with a commercial QUS instrument (Sunlight Omnisense 7000, Sunlight Medical Ltd, Tel Aviv, Israel) and 2 manufacturer supplied ultrasound probes (CS and CR) for small bones. The SGA group had significantly ( p