A dexa scan is used specifically to assess a patient’s risk of fracture by detecting osteoporosis of the vertebral bodies, which is a thinning of the bones as we age.
A dexa scan takes about ten minutes and is associated with minimal radiation exposure.
Low energy x-rays are passed through the bones to measure the mineral (calcium) content of the bones. If the patient is osteoporotic and has a significant risk of fracturing a vertebral body, osteoporosis medications can be prescribed to reduce their risk.
