Osteoporosis services

	Our Osteoporosis Services team

Osteoporosis services aim to optimally improve the prevention, detection and treatment of osteoporosis for our patients to help prevent fractures due to this condition.

With osteoporosis, bones become thinner and lose structural strength, causing them to fracture more easily, often from a minor trauma such as a fall on a loose rug or on a patch of ice. Risk of fractures becomes more common as we age. Women age 50 and older have a 40 percent chance of fracturing a hip, the spine or a wrist. Men age 50 and older have a 13 percent chance of fracture. Osteoporosis is particularly likely to occur in women age 65 and older and in those treated long-term with cortisone-like drugs.

Services

	Bone densitometers are used to assess bone mineral density to determine risk of fractures.

• Bone densitometry to assess bone mineral density (primary factor that determines bone strength). Assessment of bone density is accompanied by:
  • overall personalized assessment of fracture risk
  • recommendations for treatment to reduce fracture risk
• Education regarding prevention of bone loss using measures such as optimizing calcium and vitamin D intake and exercise.
• Education for primary care doctors, other providers and patients regarding drug therapies to treat osteoporosis and lessen fracture risk.
• Formal consultation with an osteoporosis services specialist, particularly for patients with more severe osteoporosis or those whose osteoporosis is more difficult to treat.