Dexascan

We are concerned...

• About 28 million Americans are affected by Osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis contributes to about 1.5 million fractures per year
• Hip fractures are the most debilitating and expensive type of fracture resulting from osteoporosis - $35,000 per hip

With the average adult human skeleton tipping the scale at 15 to 20 pounds, it's hard for you to detect bone loss - until something breaks. That's where Appalachian Orthopedic Center's DEXA scan steps in to help. Using this scanner, we can tell if you are at risk for osteoporosis or osteopenia. If you are, we can give you the leading edge treatment you deserve. Read on to find out more about bone loss and risk factors.

Osteoporosis is a disease of progressive bone loss where bones become weak, resulting in an increased risk of fracture. It is a "silent" disease - symptoms do not occur until a lot of bone strength is already lost. Below are risk factors:

Post menopausal females
Caucasian race, small frame
Older than 35 years
Family history of osteoporosis
Lack of calcium in the diet
Lack of exercise
Use of some medications
Various medical conditions such as parathyroid disease or eating disorders

One of the most accurate ways to evaluate bone strength is by the use of dual beam X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA. We have the most up-to-date DXA scanner available, known as DEXASCAN. It uses small amounts of X-ray to measure bone density. It's safe, painless, and easy to perform, best of all, it only takes about 10 minutes.

If you feel as though you may be at risk, contact us today to set up an appointment.