Reader Question

A reader writes:  “I am 74 female in general good health.  I have taken Fosamax and it’s generic for 13 years and have -4 in spine and advancing ostopenia in...

It’s All About Fracture Prevention

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reaffirmed it’s core purpose – Fracture Prevention – at its International Symposium last week.  It’s back to the basics. Fracture Prevention requires proper diet and lifestyle. ...

Osteoporosis Screening by Heel Ultrasound

Today we are offering free Osteoporosis Screening at a Health Fair.  We are using Heel Ultrasound.  This is good, but not as accurate a test as hip and spine DXA...

Vertebral Compression Fractures

Vertebral Compression Fractures represent an area of changing understanding of Osteoporosis.  As an orthopaedic surgeon, I understand that a fracture is a fracture whether it occurs all at once or...

Forteo

Forteo (Teriparatide) is the only Anabolic osteoporosis medication in the USA.  It acts by directly stimulating the Osteoblast cells that make new bone matrix.  It is the only type of osteoporosis...

Antiresorptives – Part 1

Antiresorptive medications for osteoporosis preserve the bone you have.  They slow down the Osteoclast cells that eat away bone.  They slow down “Osteoclasts Gone Wild”.  This markedly slows down bone...

New Osteoporosis Screening Guidelines

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has released new guidelines for screening for Osteoporosis by using DXA to test for Bone Mineral Density.  These are more restrictive than current National...

Bone Mineral Density

Bone Mineral Density is the amount of calcium and similar minerals in each square cm of bone.  This is a 2 dimensional picture.  The bone is actually 3 dimensional.  This...

Vertebral Fracture Assessment or VFA

Vertebral Fracture Assessment or VFA is based on viewing the spine from the side.  This side view compliments DXA and BMD by detecting Vertebral Compression Fractures, which are an indication...

DXA – the Bone Mineral Density Scan

Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry or DXA measures Bone Mineral Density or BMD.  Tests on DXA machines are commonly called bone density scans.  These machines became available over 20 years ago.  The...