There is considerable scientific knowledge about the causes, prevention, and treatment of bone disorders, but many gaps remain in this information. For example, it is not clearly understood why fractures occur in so many people. In this bone biology review, we look at some of the recent discoveries in skeletal genetics and metabolism that are expected to improve our understanding of bone health.
The importance of DXA is underscored by the fact that BMD is a strong independent predictor of an individual’s risk of sustaining fragility fractures. A clear relationship has been established in postmenopausal females between BMD results and the risk of osteoporotic fractures. For every standard deviation drop in DXA-calculated bone density (equivalent to a 10-12 percent bone loss in the spine), the individual’s fracture risk increases by up to 2.5 times. What are the advantages of DXA scan and how does it compare to other modalities used to measure bone density?
Every individual must work towards building and maintaining a healthy skeleton throughout life. However, it is also the responsibility of healthcare professionals, in particular primary care providers, to assist the general public in achieving this goal. Osteoporosis management and prevention is part of the overall goal of healthy bones. This can be accomplished by educating patients and promoting awareness about the key factors that influence bone health. In addition, health professionals can identify high-risk patients and initiate lifestyle and therapeutic interventions in a timely manner. This will help prevent bone loss, reduce the risk of fractures, and limit the damage caused by bone disorders.
Healthcare professionals should assess all women above the age of 65 for the presence of risk factors that predispose to bone loss and fragility fractures. What are the BMD testing recommendations in older individuals? What tools available to assess risk? How often should DXA scans be done in the elderly? At what site should BMD testing be performed? And how should the results be interpreted?
Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and increased risk of fractures. The disease is particularly dangerous because it is often “silent.” There are no signs and symptoms while the bone loss occurs in the background. In fact, the condition is typically diagnosed when a significant medical event such as a fragility fracture occurs. Sometimes, even fractures are not recognized clinically (2 out of 3 vertebral fractures are asymptomatic). X-ray techs and DXA operators are in a unique position to recognize osteoporosis fracture risk.