Bone Health & Fracture Prevention

Overview:

Bone health medications and supplements are used to prevent or treat bone loss and conditions like osteoporosis, osteopenia, and other metabolic bone disorders. They help improve bone density, reduce fracture risk, and support overall skeletal health.

Overview:

We offer a Bone Health Optimization Clinic before orthopedic surgery, most commonly before total joint and spinal fusion procedures. This clinic addresses the risks associated with undiagnosed osteoporosis, the potential complications of joint surgery to reduce hardware failure, and the benefits of a proactive approach. The bone health clinic increases preoperative osteoporosis screening rates and pharmacologic osteoporosis treatment for orthopedic surgery patients.

Overview:

A bone health screening is a test or set of tests used to assess the strength and density of your bones. The most common is a DEXA scan (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), which checks for signs of osteoporosis or low bone density. Screenings help identify your risk for bone fractures, especially as you age. They also guide treatment to prevent bone loss or improve bone strength through lifestyle changes, supplements, or medication.

A bone health screening is primarily used to detect and monitor conditions that affect bone strength and density. Common conditions include:

• Osteoporosis
• Osteopenia
• Osteomalacia
• Paget’s disease of bone

This type of test can also be used to monitor bone loss in people on certain medications (e.g., steroids) or with chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or hormonal disorders.

Overview:

A comprehensive metabolic bone health panel is a group of blood and urine tests used to evaluate the health of your bones. This panel also identifies underlying causes of bone loss, fractures, or metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis or osteomalacia. With this information, doctors can diagnose metabolic bone conditions, monitor treatment effectiveness, and identify secondary causes of bone loss. Some of the most common conditions that the panel can help detect or evaluate include:

• Osteoporosis
• Osteopenia
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Osteomalacia

Overview:

Fall prevention strategies and safety education aim to reduce the risk of falls, especially in older adults and those with bone health issues like osteoporosis. These efforts focus on strengthening the body, modifying environments, and raising awareness to help individuals stay safe and independent.

Overview:

Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands, pea-sized glands located at the bottom of the neck, create excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the bloodstream. This condition can be categorized as primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism.

With primary hyperparathyroidism, the overproduction of PTH typically stems from a benign tumor (adenoma). With secondary hyperparathyroidism, it’s typically in response to chronic kidney disease, or low calcium or vitamin D levels.

Overview:

Hypocalcemia is a condition in which there are low levels of calcium in the blood, resulting in potentially serious health complications. Hypoparathyroidism, vitamin D deficiency, and chronic kidney disease are some of the common causes.

Overview:

Osteomalacia is a condition in which the bones become soft and weak (defective bone mineralization), leaving them more susceptible to breakage. In most cases, this condition develops as the result of a vitamin D deficiency.

Overview:

Osteopenia is a condition in which bone mineral density is below normal levels, making bones weaker than they should be, but not to the extent seen in osteoporosis. It commonly develops with age or as the result of certain lifestyle or medical factors, and it increases the risk of progressing to osteoporosis and experiencing bone fractures.

Overview:

Osteoporosis is a common condition in people over 50 in which bones become weak, brittle, and more prone to fractures and breaks. A lifelong lack of calcium, eating disorders, and a decrease in estrogen or testosterone are all potential causes of osteoporosis.

Overview:

Paget’s disease of bone is a long-term condition that disrupts the normal process of bone remodeling — where old bone is broken down and replaced with new bone. In this disorder, the process becomes overly active and uncoordinated, resulting in bones that are weakened, abnormally large, and misshapen.