Bone Density Test

What’s a bone density check?

A bone density check is used to measure bone mineral content material and density. It might be performed utilizing X-rays, or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA). Or a particular CT scan that makes use of laptop software program to find out bone density of the hip or backbone. For numerous causes, the DEXA scan is taken into account the “gold normal” or most correct check.

This measurement tells the healthcare supplier whether or not there may be decreased bone mass. It is a situation through which bones are extra brittle. They’re inclined to interrupt or fracture simply.

A bone density check is used primarily to diagnose osteopenia and osteoporosis. It is also used to find out your future fracture threat. The check sometimes measures the bone density of the bones of the backbone, decrease arm, and hip. Transportable testing could use the radius (one of many two bones of the decrease arm), wrist, fingers, or heel for testing. However it’s not as exact because the nonportable strategies. Just one bone web site is examined in moveable testing.

Customary X-rays could present weakened bones. However on the level when bone weak point might be seen on normal X-rays, it might be too far superior to deal with. Bone densitometry testing can discover reducing bone density and energy at a a lot earlier stage when therapy can assist.

Why may I would like a bone density check?

A bone density check is principally performed to search for osteoporosis (skinny, weak bones) and osteopenia (decreased bone mass). These issues ought to be handled as quickly as attainable. Early therapy helps stop bone fractures. The issues of damaged bones on account of osteoporosis are sometimes dangerous, notably in older adults. The sooner osteoporosis might be identified, the earlier therapy might be began. Doing so can enhance the situation or preserve it from getting worse.

A bone density testing could also be used to:

• Verify a prognosis of osteoporosis if in case you have already had a bone fracture

• Predict your possibilities of fracturing a bone sooner or later

• Decide your price of bone loss

• See if therapy is working

There are a lot of threat elements for osteoporosis. Some widespread threat elements are:

• Postmenopausal ladies not taking estrogen

• Advancing age, ladies older than age 65 and males older than age 70

• Smoking

• Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol

• Ethnic background

• Household historical past of hip fracture or osteoporosis

• Utilizing steroids long-term or sure different medicines

• Sure illnesses, together with rheumatoid arthritis, sort 1 diabetes mellitus, liver illness, kidney illness, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel issues, or hyperparathyroidism

• Low BMI (physique mass index)

What are the dangers of a bone density check?

Bone densitometry testing makes use of a low dose of radiation. It’s possible you’ll need to ask your healthcare supplier in regards to the quantity of radiation used throughout the process and the dangers associated to your state of affairs. It is a good suggestion to maintain a document of your radiation publicity. This contains earlier CT scans and different sorts of X-rays. This fashion you possibly can inform your healthcare supplier. Dangers from radiation publicity could also be associated to the cumulative variety of X-ray exams or remedies over a protracted interval.

Inform your healthcare supplier if you’re pregnant or suppose that you could be be. Radiation publicity throughout being pregnant can result in delivery defects.

There could also be different dangers relying in your particular well being drawback. Discuss any considerations along with your healthcare supplier earlier than the process.

Sure elements or circumstances could intervene with a bone density check. These embody:

• Steel jewellery or different steel objects from a previous surgical procedure, comparable to hip replacements or backbone surgical procedure

• Physique piercing

• A barium X-ray inside 10 to 14 days of testing

• Calcified arthritic sclerosis of the posterior vertebrae

• Calcified belly aortic aneurysm

• Healed bone fractures

• Metallic clips from earlier abdomen surgical procedure

What occurs throughout a bone density check?

This check could also be performed on an outpatient foundation. Or as a part of your keep in a hospital. Procedures could differ relying in your situation and your healthcare supplier’s practices.

Typically, it follows this course of:

1. In some circumstances, it’s possible you’ll keep dressed however shall be requested to take away all metallic objects. These embody belt buckles, zippers, cash, keys, jewellery, dental home equipment, and eyeglasses. In different circumstances, you’ll be given a robe to put on in order that no buttons, zippers, or hooks will intervene with the imaging course of.

2. You’ll be positioned on an X-ray desk, mendacity flat in your again. Your legs shall be supported on a padded field. This helps to flatten the pelvis and lumbar backbone.

3. Underneath the desk, a photon generator will go slowly beneath you. On the identical time, an X-ray detecting digicam passes above the desk parallel to the photon generator beneath. Collectively, they undertaking photos of the lumbar backbone (decrease again) and hipbones onto a pc display screen. You’ll be requested to remain very nonetheless. You might also be requested to carry your breath for a short while to get a really clear image.

4. The radius, a bone in your forearm, or your heel could also be scanned relying in your healthcare supplier’s request. The pc will calculate the quantity of photons that aren’t absorbed by the bones. That is performed to find out the bone mineral content material. The bone mineral density will then be calculated by the healthcare supplier.

The complete scan takes about half-hour. A transportable scan that checks solely your forearm, finger, hand, or foot, takes a bone density studying in a couple of minutes.

Whereas the bone densitometry process itself causes no ache, the actions of the physique components being examined could trigger some discomfort or ache. That is notably true if in case you have just lately had surgical procedure or an damage. The technologist will use all attainable consolation measures and full the process as rapidly as attainable to cut back any discomfort or ache.