Dexa Scan - Wrist Test

DEXA scan is an x-ray scanning test to measure and analyse the bone composition of an individual. It tests the bone mineral density (BMD) by passing two X-ray beams over the body. It is, therefore, known as the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Scan. The test typically diagnoses osteoporosis, a disease which leads to a broken bone situation. It compares your bone density to the standard bone density according to your age, gender, and ethnicity. The wrist DEXA scan analyses your wrist bones through peripheral machines. It is usually a small test of 5-10 minutes.

The scan does not require any special preparations. You can follow your daily schedule before going for the test. It is not carried out as the usual MRIs or CT scans. Therefore, there will be no claustrophobic feelings.

The clothing for the test should be comfortable and suitable for the procedure. Clothes with metal fasteners are not allowed.

The prime use of the DEXA scan is to evaluate a person’s bone material density. Secondarily, it is also used for calculating the complete body composition and the availability of fat in the body. It helps you in identifying certain long-term health risks such as diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and more. It analyses the conditions of injuries or bone fracture in the wrist. It presents the risk of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. It gives an accurate result about the fragility of the bones and enables the doctor in providing the right treatment for the same. This method is FDA approved and is used more commonly than other BMD tests such as BMI and BodPod.

The DEXA scan procedure for the wrist involves keeping your hand on the examination table. The healthcare practitioner will pass x-ray beams through the wrist and prepare a scanned picture of the bones. The scan uses very low-density rays to scan the bones. The scanned images are studied in the lab to produce the results and inferences.