Target Audience
The ISCD Orthopedic Osteoporosis and Densitometry Course is designed for healthcare professionals with an interest in orthopedics, osteoporosis, and bone health specifically over the age of 50, including those working in orthopedics, radiology and diagnostic imaging, physical and occupational therapy, public health, and research. These include orthopedic surgeons, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, radiology technologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
Osteoporosis, both primary and secondary, is a common problem leading to fragility fractures and poor outcomes of elective orthopedic surgery. Although orthopedic surgeons care for the majority of patients having fractures, there is a need to support training in current methods of bone health assessment, including bone densitometry. The under-diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis continues to occur even though effective therapy exists to improve bone health and to reduce fracture risk. This gap in osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment contributes to the epidemic of new fractures and complications related to poor bone health in elective orthopedic surgery. Those caring for orthopedic patients must be familiar with and aware of current guidelines regarding osteoporosis diagnosis, fracture risk assessment, and a basic understanding of therapeutic agents.
In addition to fracture prevention and post fracture care, elective orthopedic surgery patients over age of 50 years have a significant risk of having poor bone health including osteoporosis. Poor bone health has been associated with many adverse events of elective orthopedic surgery including periprosthetic fracture, implant subsidence, non-union and delayed union, hardware loosening, revision surgery, and overall poorer patient reported outcomes. In spine surgery, similar adverse events can occur including proximal junction failure at the end of fusions, proximal fracture with neurologic injury, and revision surgery. Unfortunately, less than 5% of orthopedic surgeons order testing for bone health prior to elective surgery.
To close the diagnosis gap, this course will review osteoporosis diagnosis guidelines, diagnostic testing basics including the application and interpretation of bone densitometry, and newer methods to assess bone health of fracture and elective surgery patients. Further, the course addresses how to initiate treatment based on clinical assessment and published guidelines. The dissemination of evidence-based information on risk/benefit balance could help reduce the treatment gap and improve patient health. Orthopedic surgeons and other members of the healthcare team may be unfamiliar with how elevated fracture risk and prevalent fragility fracture warrants pharmacological intervention of osteoporosis.
Lastly, osteoporosis is widely recognized as an important public health problem because of the related morbidity, mortality and high cost associated with fracture. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurement by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an internationally accepted standard-of-care screening and osteoporosis diagnostic tool. This course provides essential information regarding BMD acquisition, interpretation and monitoring.
Course Objectives
After participating in the ISCD Orthopedic Osteoporosis and Densitometry Course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the principles of DXA including indications, interpretation, monitoring and potential pitfalls.
- Utilize advanced densitometry techniques such as trabecular bone score, vertebral fracture assessment, and opportunistic CT in clinical practice.
- Ensure all fragility fracture patients receive secondary fracture care
- Screen elective surgery patients over age 50 years for poor bone health and provide access to osteoporosis care if warranted
- Understand various pharmacological treatments available and treatment algorithms.
- Understanding the importance of sarcopenia, frailty, fall risk assessment and fall prevention.
The ISCD Orthopedic Osteoporosis and Densitometry Course provides the most current, clinically relevant, and evidence-based information on bone health assessment and orthopedic surgery. This educational program is designed to improve learner competence by providing targeted opportunities for presenting the latest information in the research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and advances in bone health assessment and management in both fracture and elective orthopedic surgery patients. Learners will have the opportunity to take the knowledge gained from this educational opportunity and properly and consistently apply it into their professional practices. The ISCD Orthopedic Osteoporosis and Densitometry Course Committee developed this comprehensive course to include the following topics:
Course Lectures
- Understanding DXA and Its Indications
- DXA Acquisition and Interpretation
- Advanced Bone Health Assessment
- Fracture Risk Assessment
- Pharmacological Treatment of Osteoporosis
- Monitoring – Bone Turnover Markers and DXA
- Sarcopenia, Frailty, Fall Risk Assessment/Prevention
- Post Fracture Acute Care/Rehabilitation; Secondary Fracture Prevention Program
- Atypical Femur Fractures (AFF) Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- Bone Health Optimization
Interested in offering this course Internationally?
If you are interested in offering this ISCD course internationally, please submit an Interest Form.
