Osteoporosis
Last updated Tuesday, May 15, 2007
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Diagnosis and evaluationDiagnosis A person who has bone fractures with only minor
trauma, such as a simple fall, probably has osteoporosis. Physicians must determine that other diseases
did not cause the fracture. (see above)
Osteoporosis can also be diagnosed with a bone density
test. This is a kind of X-ray that
measures the density in the spine, hip or wrist. Other tests can measure the heel with
ultrasound.
A committee of the World Health Organization has defined
osteoporosis based on the bone density. Using standardized bone density
measurements of the total hip, "normal" bone is greater than 833
mg/cm2. "Osteopenia" is between 833 and 648mg/cm2. Osteoporosis is
lower than 648mg/cm2, and "Severe (established) osteoporosis" is when
there has been a fragility fracture.
There
have been many debates about when bone density tests should be done. The recommendations also vary from country to
country. Many doctors in the USA suggest
that the bone density should be done for women older than 65, men older than
70, and persons with serious risk factors.Diagnostic tests Bone density tests can estimate the risk of a fracture,
but can not tell if an individual person will or will not break a bone.
Other
blood and urine tests, X-rays, and bone scans can help a physician decide if
other diseases caused osteoporosis or caused a fracture.Effects The bone density test is easy, can be done in about 15
minutes, and is painless.Health care team Osteoporosis is a common disease. The diagnosis is made by a physician or a
nurse practitioner. There is no medical
specialty devoted to osteoporosis.
Physicians who diagnose and treat osteoporosis can be in the following
specialties: family practice, internal medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology,
radiology, orthopedics, nephrology or rehabilitation medicine.Finding a doctor Because there is no specialty for osteoporosis, it is
not easy to know which physicians in any community have the most knowledge and
experience with osteoporosis - especially in complicated cases. A patient should ask his or her primary care
providor about recommendations for a referal if a specialist is needed.Surgery for Osteoporosis at the University of Washington, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Seattle, Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure in Seattle, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 to make an appointment. Our clinical center is located in Seattle Washington, USA
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