BONE DISEASE
TYPES OF BONE DISEASE
• Osteoporosis
• Paget’s disease
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Bone Cancers
• Rickets
• Osteomalacia
• Acromegaly
• Fibrous Dysplasia
WE OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES INCLUDING:
• Clinicians run service assessment and management.
• A screening/investigation nurse led a clinic for osteoporosis.
• Bone Densitometry (bone scanning) with appropriate reporting and management advice.
• A telephone help-line for both health professionals and patients.
• Bone biopsies when appropriate.
• Parental treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates in the infusion suite at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
• A shared care pathway for the use of subcutaneous Denosumab, we provide clinics at Addenbrooke’s and in the community.
• Teriparatide therapy (PTH).
TREATMENT AND SERVICES FOR BONE DISORDERS
At Atlantic Endocrinology & Diabetes Center we evaluate and treat patients with low bone mineral density who are at an increased risk of fractures. Our team of specialists work together to treat bone disorders, including:
• Low bone density (osteopenia, osteoporosis) and related low trauma fractures.
• Hyperparathyroidism.
• Hypoparathyroidism.
• Vitamin D related disorders like Osteomalacia.
• Paget’s Disease.
• Bone diseases associated with kidney disorders, transplant, cancers.
• Bone disorders related to Female Athlete Triad.
• Bone disorders related to Turner Syndrome.
• Bone disorders related to Klinefelter’s Syndrome.
BONE DENSITY ASSESSMENTS
At Atlantic Endocrinology & Diabetes Center, we have the most advanced options, including dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans and Trabecular bone score (TBS), to study and assess bone mineral density.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Bone density tests are usually done on bones that are most likely to break because of osteoporosis, including:
• Lower spine bones (lumbar vertebrae).
• The narrow neck of your thigh bone (femur), next to your hip joint.
• Bones in your forearm.
If you have your bone density test done, it’ll probably be done on a device where you lie on a padded platform while a mechanical arm passes over your body. The amount of radiation you’re exposed to is very low, much less than the amount emitted during a chest X-ray. The test usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes.
Because bone density can vary from one location in your body to another, a measurement taken at your heel usually isn’t as accurate a predictor of fracture risk as a measurement taken at your spine or hip. Consequently, if your test on a peripheral device is positive, your doctor might recommend a follow-up scan at your spine or hip to confirm your diagnosis.
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?
Osteoporosis is a common disease that reduces bone density, making them more prone to breakage. Human bones are living tissue that is in a constant state of renewal — old cells are discarded and replaced, a process known as remodeling. When a person has osteoporosis, the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the removal of old bone. As this happens, the bones become less dense and are prone to breaking. As many as 10 million Americans have osteoporosis.
At our clinic our goal is to evaluate patients at an early stage to prevent the major complication of osteoporosis (fractures), and treat patients at the earliest possible stage to prevent additional disease manifestations.
Atlantic Endocrinology & Diabetes Center sees patients with osteoporosis, disorders of calcium metabolism, and other metabolic Bone Diseases including Paget’s Disease, osteomalacia, osteogenesis imperfecta and others. The center has state-of-the-art equipment, which is used to assess bone density in the hip and spine, as well as radius and total body if clinically indicated. This allows the physicians to evaluate the degree of bone loss, to diagnose osteoporosis and the risk for future fracture.