Overview
About Fragility Fracture Risk Assessment
Fragility fracture risk assessment goes a step beyond a bone density scan alone, combining your DEXA results with clinical risk factors — age, sex, body weight, smoking, alcohol use, family history of hip fracture, and use of medications such as steroids — using a validated tool such as FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool). This produces an estimate of your individual probability of a major fracture over the next 10 years, helping to clarify whether lifestyle measures alone are sufficient or whether medical treatment to strengthen bone is warranted.
Key Benefits
Combines bone density with real clinical risk factors for a more accurate risk picture
Provides a clear 10-year fracture probability rather than just a density number
Identifies people who benefit from treatment even with only mildly reduced bone density
Evidence-based tool used internationally and validated across large populations
Directly informs whether lifestyle measures or medical treatment is the right next step
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FRAX?
FRAX (Fracture Risk Assessment Tool) is a validated, internationally used calculator that combines bone density results with clinical risk factors like age, weight, smoking, and family history to estimate your probability of a major fracture over the next 10 years.
Why do I need a risk assessment if I already had a bone density scan?
Bone density alone does not capture the whole picture — two people with the same bone density can have very different fracture risk depending on age, weight, lifestyle, and other factors, which is exactly what a fragility fracture risk assessment accounts for.
What risk factors are included in the assessment?
Key factors include age, sex, body mass index, smoking and alcohol use, a parental history of hip fracture, previous fragility fractures, long-term steroid use, and certain underlying medical conditions affecting bone health.
Can my risk assessment change the treatment decision?
Yes — someone with osteopenia (mildly low bone density) but several significant risk factors may be recommended for treatment, while someone with the same bone density but few risk factors may only need lifestyle measures and monitoring.
How often should fracture risk be reassessed?
Reassessment is generally recommended every 2–5 years, or sooner if there is a new fracture, a significant change in health status, or a new medication that affects bone health.