SPINE fracture checks will be added to OAP bone scans on the NHS to try and catch tens of thousands of breaks earlier.
An estimated 2.2million Brits have “hidden” spinal fractures that may cause terrible back pain but get missed on standard tests.
X-ray scans are common practice for people at higher risk of falls or frailty as they age.
They are also offered regularly to diagnose and monitor osteoporosis, a condition that weakens the bones.
But there is no system for checking the spine and 70 per cent of spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis go undetected.
The NHS will now add a quick vertebral fracture assessment to these check-ups as routine for over-50s.
Tens of thousands diagnosed earlier
More than 86,000 older people fracture their vertebrae every year and this could diagnose them sooner.
Eric Power, director at the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice), said: “Vertebral fractures can have a devastating impact on people’s quality of life.
“Introducing fracture assessments during routine bone density scans will help healthcare professionals get the right care to people sooner.”
About 80 per cent of Brits suffer back pain at some point in their life and a fracture may be the cause.
In old age they are typically caused by falls and osteoporosis, which affects 3.5million people in the UK.
WHAT IS OSTEOPOROSIS?
OSTEOPOROSIS is a condition that weakens bones as we get older.
It is a medical condition and not a normal part of ageing.
As people get older the insides of our bones waste away and get thinner and more fragile, increasing the risk of a break – this is called osteopenia.
In severe cases people might lose bone mass faster and more extensively, seriously weakening their bones – this is a condition called osteoporosis.
It increases the risk of fracturing or breaking a bone in a fall and broken wrists or hips are common injuries.
Undiagnosed fractures, such as in the spine, can cause long-term pain.
Osteoporosis is more common in women than men.
Ways to reduce the risk of osteoporosis as you age include regular exercise and weight training, eating healthily and getting calcium in your diet, and making sure you get enough vitamin D, using supplements if necessary.
