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Increasing patient awareness of a silent diseaseWhat is osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is a disease that causes a loss of bone density resulting in brittle bones. The loss of bone density also results in a substantially increased risk of bone fractures, especially in the hip, spine and wrist. Over 25 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis which results in over 1.3 million related fractures. What causes osteoporosis?Bone is a dynamic living tissue being constantly broken down and reformed. Most people reach their peak bone mass by age 35, after which bone loss exceeds bone formation. Osteoporosis is a state in which bone breaks down much faster than it is made, resulting in more fragile bone. This is most common after menopause when women have a much faster rate of bone loss than men. How is osteoporosis diagnosed?Bone densitometry is an examination that estimates the density of a person’s bones. The study is completed with a bone densitometer, a device similar to an x-ray machine. It uses very low dose x-rays and special detectors to scan the spine, hips, and wrist to identify areas of bone loss. The test is as easy and painless as having a routine x-ray, but the radiation dose is a fraction of that received during an exposure to a chest x-ray. The entire examination takes about 15-20 minutes. What are the treatments for osteoporosis?The basic treatment recommendations include dietary supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, exercise, cessation of smoking, and decreased caffeine and alcohol intake. There are also several types of prescription medications that decrease the rate of bone loss in osteoporosis. One newer class of medications called biophosphonates have been shown to not only decrease the rate of bone loss, but also substantially reduce the risk of subsequent fractures due to osteoporosis. What are the risk factors for osteoporosis and indications for bone densitometry?A list of risk factors are outlined on the osteoporosis questionnaire. If you meet any of these criteria, please place a check mark beside all that apply. We will check your responses and let you know if you may benefit from a bone density study and/or treatment for osteoporosis. Note:Osteoporosis is much like high blood pressure in that it is a silent disease. Osteoporosis is often undiagnosed until after a fracture occurs, resulting in considerable pain and lengthy rehabilitation, sometimes even surgery. In order to prevent osteoporosis, we at Triangle Orthopaedics have made a commitment to try to increase patient awareness of this problem and offer diagnostic testing and treatment options for those people at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures. How to make an appointment:Please complete the osteoporosis questionnaire while you are waiting for your appointment. One of our medical assistants will screen your responses. If you are at risk for osteoporosis, we will schedule you for a bone density study. The studies are done on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. If your study is completely normal, we will mail you a letter discussing the results and treatment recommendations for healthy bones. If you have any evidence of decreased bone density, we will schedule an appointment with either Raphael Orenstein, MD or Sam Dyer PA-C to discuss treatment options. Osteoporosis Risk Factors and Indications for Bone Densitometry
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