Osteoporosis Examination and Results Interpretation

Published at 24 September 2024

Osteoporosis is one of the most threatening diseases for elderly population, as it affects 1 out of 3 women and 1 out of 5 men over the age of fifty. (1) It is also called the silent disease, because it does not cause any symptoms, and a person cannot know about his disease except through an osteoporosis examination, or known as a bone density scan or DEXA scan. (2) How is this examination performed? What do the results mean?

Osteoporosis Screening Method

Osteoporosis screening or DEXA scan is a simple, easy, and painless examination, similar to a regular X-ray examination. Its principle is based on measuring your body's bone density and its strength. The examination steps are: (3)

The doctor will ask you to lie on your back on a special table, and there is often no need to take off your clothes.

The doctor will help you position while lying down.
A special X-ray machine is passed over you to scan your bones, and the images are sent to a special computer for review.
You will need to remain still during the examination, and the doctor may ask you to hold your breath for some time; To take accurate images.
Another, smaller machine may be used to measure bone density in the wrists, hands, feet or fingers.

The Orthopedics Department at Al-Ahli Hospital has the latest and finest devices to measure bone density, which enable doctors to accurately determine the strength of your bones. If the examination results reveal any decrease in your bone density, they will provide you with consultation and treatment appropriate to your health condition.

How long does the examination take?

Osteoporosis screening is quick, it will only take you 15 minutes. (4)

How do I prepare for the examination?

Few preparations are required before an osteoporosis examination, as you can eat normally before the examination date, and take your medications as usual, but the doctor may ask you for a set of instructions, which you must follow as required, including: (4)( 5)

Stop taking any supplements or medications that contain calcium 24 hours before the examination. This includes multivitamins such as Centrum, and some antacids that may contain calcium.
Wear loose clothing, and avoid clothes that contain metal parts, whether in the belt, buttons, or anything else.
Tell your doctor if you have recently had a test that used a contrast (such as a CT scan or MRI), as you may need to wait 7 days for an osteoporosis scanning, as the contrast may affect the accuracy of your result.

Interpretation of test results

The results of an osteoporosis test appear in the form of numbers. The T score is usually used to compare your bone density with the bone density of healthy young people. The T score results the can be explained as follows: (6)

-1 or higher: This means that you are in the green zone, meaning that your bones are strong and do not suffer from osteoporosis or weakness.
Between -1 to -2.5: This means that you are in the yellow zone, meaning that you have weakness in the bones, but it has not reached the point of osteoporosis.
-2.5 or less: This means you are in the red zone, and most likely have osteoporosis.

Another method that may be used to show osteoporosis screening results is the Z score, which is used more with children and young adults under the age of 30. Your bone density is compared with the average bone density of people your age. If the score is higher or lower than the average, you may need to do more tests. (6)( 7)

Does the test have any side effects?

Osteoporosis screening is very safe, and the amount of radiation used is very small, in fact, less than a chest x-ray, and less than the radiation you are exposed to when traveling by plane. (4)

Should a calcium test also be done?

Calcium test is not useful in detecting osteoporosis; Because it measures the level of calcium in your blood, not in the bones themselves, that is, your blood calcium level may be normal, but it is low in the bones. Therefore, the DEXA scan is the standard test in detecting osteoporosis, because it measures the calcium and mineral content of the bones themselves and other minerals important for their strength. (8)