Low bone density is the greatest risk factor for spine and hip
fractures. Each year there are approximately 700,000 spine fractures and
250,000 hip fractures in the United States. More than 90% of these occur
in people with bone density measurement in the osteoporotic range.
The
association between low bone density and osteoporotic fracture is
similar to the association between cholesterol and heart disease, or
blood pressure and stroke. Like cholesterol level and blood pressure,
bone density is a risk factor that can be changed. You can’t do much
about other risk factors such as age, sex, race, or genetic background,
but low bone mass can be prevented and treated. Your physician can use
the results of a bone density test to determine if medication to prevent
or treat osteoporosis is advisable for you.
DEXA bone density studies of the spine and hip are considered the
"gold standard" for diagnosing osteoporosis and following
changes in bone density over time. DEXA stands for Dual
Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. Low dose x-ray of two different energies are used to
distinguish between bone and soft tissue, giving a very accurate
measurement of bone density at these sites.
No special patient preparation is necessary.
However, if you have had any x-rays using contrast such as barium, or
any nuclear medicine studies, please wait one week before having a DEXA
scan.
DEXA is a painless, non-invasive test.
You will be
asked to lie still and quiet on a padded table, but you will be able to
breathe normally. The study lasts only a few minutes. The x-ray dose you
will be exposed to is extremely low, similar to what you would receive
on a long distance airplane flight.
Click here for more information on DEXA Bone Densitometry
