Luxembourg has made a technological breakthrough in osteoporosis diagnosis
Planet Volumes, Unsplash
A new bone density scanner, the densitometer, has been in operation at CHdN since 7 January, allowing for highly accurate examinations. Although the official inauguration of the equipment will take place at a later date, it is already receiving patients, reducing the burden on other medical facilities in the country. The X-ray-powered scanner creates images in 15 minutes. The technology allows doctors to assess the degree of bone density, which is particularly important for diagnosing and monitoring osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones brittle and increases the risk of fractures. The device is also capable of detecting sarcopenia - the loss of muscle mass - but its main purpose in CHdN remains monitoring bone structure.
Prior to the scanner at CHdN, patients faced enormous waiting times of up to 20 months. With the installation of the new equipment, this figure has been reduced to three weeks. An appointment for an examination is made by referral from a doctor - both a general practitioner and a subspecialist. The device can serve up to 30 people per day, which significantly speeds up medical diagnostics.
There are strict indications for the procedure based on age and medical factors:
- Men and women over the age of 70.
- Menopausal women and men 50 to 70 years of age with risk factors.
- People over the age of 50 who have already suffered a bone fracture.
The new machine is the second densitometer in Luxembourg, where the demand for such examinations is traditionally high. In the future, a third scanner is planned to further reduce the workload and speed up diagnostics.
The introduction of such equipment not only improves diagnostic accuracy, but also prevents serious complications associated with late detection of osteoporosis. This is particularly important in Luxembourg's ageing population. Diseases associated with loss of bone and muscle mass cause many hospitalisations and increase treatment costs. Thanks to new technologies, patients are able to start therapy in good time, which can significantly improve their quality of life.
CHdN has taken an important step towards modernising health care by making one of the most sought-after procedures available to residents of the region. The installation of another densitometer in the future will further reduce waiting times and improve diagnostics on a national level.
