Frequency distribution

Osteoporosis is a disease that has seen a significant increase in the last few years. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies the disease as one of the ten most important diseases of our time. Studies assume that about 6.3 million people in Germany suffer from osteoporosis. The best method, which has also been classified by the WHO as the gold standard for early detection of osteoporosis and which has shown good results in follow-up examinations, is DXA measurement.

Implementation

The DXA measurement is usually performed by a specialist in orthopedics or radiology, but can also be performed in a hospital. The special devices allow the measurement while the patient is lying in a horizontal position. The X-ray tube is located under the patient, the detector which detects the transmitted rays is located above the patient.In order to measure the spinal column as accurately as possible, the legs must be elevated slightly.

It is important that the person being examined does not move so that the results of the measurement are accurate. The examination takes about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the device and the parts of the body to be examined. The patient will not notice the examination.

In many cases, the DXA measurement is not a one-time examination, but is used several times for follow-up. Usual intervals between examinations are 6 months to 2 years, depending on the disease. The DXA measurement is a simple, fast and non-invasive measurement method.

No anesthesia or local anesthesia is required to perform the measurement. The radiation density required is very low and only a fraction of the amount of radiation that is radiated onto the body, for example during a computer tomography. The DXA method is the most accurate method available that can reliably diagnose osteoporosis and is also suitable for determining the risk of spontaneous bone fracture. In addition, devices with which a DXA measurement can be performed are now very widespread, making it very practical for the patient and the physician. Typically, X-rays in the doses used for diagnostics have no side effects on the human body and are therefore considered harmless for most people.