Osteoporosis Flashcards
What is osteoporosis?
Systemic skeletal disease which is characterised by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue
What does osteoporosis increase your chance of?
Fractures due to increased bone fragility
What does osteoporosis mean?
Reduced bone mass
What does osteomalacia mean?
Normal bone mass but reduced mineral content
What changes to the bone occur?
- Fewer trabeculae
- Thinning of cortical bone
- Widening of haversian canal
Which bones are more prone to fracture and why?
Vertebrae, shoulder blades and ribs as they are mainly spongy bone
What are the risk factors for osteoporosis?
S - steroids H - hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, hypercalciuria A - alcohol T - thin (BMI < 18.5) E - early menopause R - renal or liver failure E - erosive/ inflammatory bone disease D - Dietary disease
What are the signs of osteoporosis?
- Dowagers hump (crush fractures of vertebrae) if trabecular bone is affected
- Fractures (especially hip) if cortical bone is affected
What would you use to diagnose osteoporosis?
Xray
What would you not be able to detect on an xray?
Osteopenia
What is a DEXA scan?
Measures the bone mineral density
What is a T score?
The results of the DEXA scan. A standard deviation score compares with gender match young adult average (peak bone mass)
What would a T score of between -1 and -2.5 indicate?
Osteopenia
What does a T score of -2.5 indicate?
Osteoporosis
What would a a score of
Sever osteoporosis
