Bone Density Scan in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is a bone density scan?
A bone density scan measures the amount of mineral packed into your bones, which is the main guide to how strong they are. The standard test is called DEXA, short for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. It passes two very weak X-ray beams through the body and measures how much of each the bone absorbs. Denser bone absorbs more.
The scan usually measures the hip and the lower spine, because these are the places where fractures from thinning bones cause the most harm. Sometimes the forearm is measured as well. At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, bone density scans are carried out in the Radiology department, and a radiologist reports the result to the doctor who requested it.
Your result is given as two scores:
| Score | What it compares you with | How it is used |
|---|---|---|
| T-score | A healthy young adult of the same sex, at the age bones are strongest | The main score for women after menopause and men over 50 |
| Z-score | People of your own age and sex | Used for children, younger adults and women before menopause |
A T-score close to zero means your bones are similar to a healthy young adult's. The further below zero the score falls, the thinner the bones. Results are grouped as normal, low bone mass (sometimes called osteopenia) or osteoporosis.
Who needs it
A bone density scan is arranged by a doctor when there is a reason to think your bones may be thinning. Your doctor may advise one if you are:
- A woman after menopause with risk factors such as a parent who broke a hip, smoking, or low body weight
- A woman whose menopause came early, before the age of 45
- An older man, particularly with other risk factors
- Someone who has broken a bone from a minor fall, such as a fall from standing height
- Someone taking steroid tablets long term, or other long-term treatments known to affect bone
- Living with a condition that affects bone, such as rheumatoid arthritis, an overactive thyroid, coeliac disease or long-term kidney or liver disease
In the UAE, low vitamin D levels are common despite year-round sunshine, because many people spend most of the day indoors, avoid the midday heat and wear covering clothing. Low vitamin D over many years weakens bone, so your doctor may check it alongside the scan.
The scan is usually requested by a doctor in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine or General Medicine, or by a gynecologist around the menopause.
What happens
You lie on your back on a padded table, usually fully clothed if your clothes have no metal. For the spine measurement, your legs rest on a padded block so your lower back lies flat. For the hip measurement, your foot is placed in a brace that turns the leg slightly inwards.
A scanning arm passes slowly over you. It stays well above your body, and nothing encloses you, so the test suits people who dislike enclosed spaces. The radiographer asks you to stay still and breathe normally while each area is measured. The whole test usually takes a few minutes of scanning time, and you feel nothing during it.
The radiation dose from a bone density scan is very low, much lower than a standard chest X-ray. Tell the radiographer before the test if you are pregnant or might be.
Preparing for it
- Take no calcium supplements on the day of the scan until it is done. Calcium tablets sitting in the gut can show on the scan and make a reading look higher than it is. Eat and drink normally otherwise.
- Wear clothes without metal, such as a tracksuit or loose clothing with an elastic waist. Zips, buttons, belt buckles and underwired bras over the hip or spine are removed, and you may be given a gown.
- Tell the team about recent scans, particularly any test in the last two weeks that used contrast dye or a nuclear medicine injection, since these can affect the measurement and the scan may be moved to a later date.
- Bring previous bone density reports, with the name of the centre where they were done. Repeat scans are most comparable when done at the same centre.
Afterwards
You can return to your normal day straight away, including driving and work. There are no after-effects.
The radiologist's report goes to the doctor who requested the scan. That doctor explains your scores and, together with your age, fracture history and other risk factors, estimates your chance of a fracture over the coming years. Treatment and fracture prevention are described on the osteoporosis management page.
If your first scan is normal, your doctor advises whether and when to repeat it. People starting treatment usually have a repeat scan after an interval their doctor sets, to check the response.
Contact your doctor if you break a bone after a minor fall, or develop sudden back pain or noticeable height loss, as these can be signs of a spinal fracture.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover a bone density scan when a doctor requests it for a clear medical reason, such as a previous fracture or long-term steroid treatment. Cover for screening without risk factors varies by plan, and some insurers need pre-approval. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the risks and limits of a bone density scan?
A bone density scan has very few risks, since it uses a very low dose of radiation and nothing is injected. The main limit is that it measures bone density, which is only one part of fracture risk; age, falls and previous fractures matter too. Arthritis or old fractures in the spine can make the spine reading look falsely high, so the radiologist also relies on the hip reading.
Does a bone density scan hurt?
A bone density scan is painless. You lie still on a padded table while a scanning arm passes over you, and you feel nothing. The arm stays above your body, so the scan is comfortable for people who dislike enclosed spaces.
How much radiation does a DEXA scan use?
A DEXA scan uses a very low dose of radiation, much lower than a standard chest X-ray. Tell the radiographer before the scan if you are pregnant or might be, so the test can be postponed or reconsidered.
What does a T-score mean?
A T-score compares your bone density with that of a healthy young adult of the same sex. A score near zero is normal, and the further below zero it falls, the thinner the bones. Your doctor combines it with your age and other risk factors to judge your fracture risk.
Can I take my calcium tablets before a bone density scan?
Calcium supplements are best left until after the scan on the day of the test, because a tablet in the gut can show on the image and raise the reading. You can eat and drink normally and take other medicines as usual unless you are told otherwise.
How often should I have a bone density scan?
Bone density scan frequency depends on your first result and whether you are on treatment. People with normal bones may need no repeat for several years, while people starting treatment are often rescanned sooner to check the response. Your doctor sets the interval for you.
Is a bone density scan covered by insurance in the UAE?
Most UAE insurance plans cover a bone density scan requested by a doctor for a medical reason, while screening without risk factors is covered by some plans and excluded by others. Confirm your cover and any pre-approval with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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