Description
Osteoporotic fractures levy high human and economic tolls. Osteoporosis is diagnosed by measuring bone mineral content (BMC), and so bone mineral density (BMD), which is currently the best predictor of fracture risk.
BMD measurement by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the preferred scanning technique from which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined osteoporosis and stratified fracture risks. Informed decisions can then be reached regarding management of an individual, as reliance on clinical risk factors alone for this purpose is inadequate.
Other scanning methods employed include the assessment of heel ultrasound, quantitative CT scanning and peripheral DXA measurements. Plain X-rays identify fractures and thereby heighten awareness of osteoporosis. This needs to be established through formal BMD measurements which are highly cost effective.
