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WHY ULTRASOUND?

Ultrasound has the advantages of being portable and it involves no radiation dose to patient or nurse. In  epidemiological prospective trials ultrasound has been shown to have a risk gradient per standard deviation change of 2, in predicting future hip fracture. This is similar  to DXA at the hip, (risk gradient 2.6 per standard deviation change), but better than spinal DXA ( risk gradient 1.5).  As with any densitometric device it is important to interpret the data in the context of clinical risk factors to give an overall assessment of fracture risk, and studies have shown that when clinical risk factors are used in conjunction with densitometry data the predictive power is enhanced. As with all technologies, it is crucial that interpretation and reporting is performed by someone who understands them and one of the advantages of this service is that each patients gains a report from a Consultant Specialist in Osteoporosis. 

For References and further information click in the Research Link.