Ottumwa Regional adds bone density scanner

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - Ottumwa Regional Health Center added a bone density scanner to help detect bone loss before it leads to fractures.

According to the CDC, nearly 319,000 Americans are hospitalized for hip fractures every year.

Lisa Garrison, radiology director at Ottumwa Regional Health Center said the warning signs are almost always invisible.

“Definitely hip fractures. You know, it’s a serious thing. You know, it’s a lot of recovery. Not only is it painful, but a lot of times they have to have surgery and just the recovery of it is very hard,” Garrison said.

Bone loss doesn’t always come with symptoms like pain until a fall becomes a fracture.

Garrison said it’s not just aging. Long-term steroid use, weight loss and cancer treatment can all drain bone density over time.

Ottumwa Regional added the Horizon DXA System, a bone density scanner that measures how strong or fragile bones are in 10 seconds.

“Early detection is the key, just so that we can get on a plan if we, an early assessment of it and continue to watch so that we can try to prevent those hip fractures,” Garrison said.

The hospital said the addition keeps patients close to home ahead of a potential crisis. The scanner is available now at Ottumwa Regional with a doctor’s order.

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