Review Article

Additional tools for the estimation of fracture risk using DXA method

Laoura R. Vako

• Laboratory for the Research of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

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Keywords: Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry, Hip Structural Analysis, Osteoporosis, Trabecular bone score, Vertebral Fracture Assessment

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Abstract

As the world population grows, the life expectancy of the elderly will continue to grow. With the growing prevalence of various chronic diseases, the incidence of fragility fractures caused by osteoporosis is expected to further increase in the future. DXA is a simple, inexpensive and safe technique currently used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, but numerous osteoporotic fractures also present in patients with osteopenia. Other techniques using the DXA technology also currently employed, such as the assessment of bone quality by analyzing bone microarchitecture with Trabecular Bone Score (TBS), or geometrical properties of the femur with Hip Structural Analysis (HSA) contribute to the prediction of fracture risk and bone strength, while Vertebral Fracture Assessment (VFA) serves in assessing prevalent vertebral fractures by replacing conventional X-ray.

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