Usefulness of bone mineral density measurement in menopausal woman: a study of 217 post menopausal women.

ABSTRACT

Bone mineral densitometry was done in 217 women in their menopausal period using Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method. All the patients were presented with different post menopausal syndromes. Quantification of bone mineral density were done in proximal femur and lumber spines of all the patients along with plain X-ray of the sites. One hundred and thirty nine patients showed normal bone mineral density in our study. Rest 78 patients showed declination of bone mineral density from mild osteopenia to severe osteoporosis. We conclude that Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry bone mineral measurement is an unique, non-invasive method in detecting bone mass disorder in post-menopausal women with low back pain and should be the first choice of investigation, for the earliest detection of bone loss and thus fracture risk can be reduced by appropriate management.