Abstract: ObjectiveTo study effects of oral administering alfa calcidol and diphosphonates on the bone mineral density (BMD) of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsChanges of BMD of the 4th lumbar spine (L4), the proximal femur (total) and all of its subareas were studied between SCI cases of taking (n=31) and not taking (n=42) alfa calcidol. Changes of BMD between cases of taking diphosphonates (n=22) and not taking (n=24) were also compared.ResultsThere were no significant differences in BMD of L4, the proximal femur and all of its subareas between SCI cases of taking and not taking alfa calcidol. While there was a significant difference in BMD of the proximal femur (total) between cases of taking and not taking diphosphonates (P<0.05), and the reducing degree of BMD in the former is less than that in the latter.Conclusion Oral administering diphosphonates has a protective effect on SCI patients' BMD of the proximal femur.

Key words: spinal cord injury (SCI), bone mineral density (BMD), osteoporosis, diphosphonates