Lancashire uses 3D to spot fragile bones

Consultant radiologist Dr Simon Beardmore, chairman of the local support group of the National Osteoporosis Society Marion Fogarty, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Karen Partington, clinical manager, imaging Caroline Mee, specialist radiographer Alison Worthington and Med Imaging Dexa technical specialist Peter Kent-Baldwin.

Lancashire Teaching Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust is reported to be the first in the world to use 3D software to test patients for fragile bones that may be at increased risk of fracture.

Provided and installed by Med Imaging, the DEXA bone densitometry service has been launched at Royal Preston Hospital and, for the first time, 3D software has been installed on the scanner to enable a more accurate view of patients’ bones.

Consultant radiologist Dr Simon Beardmore said: “It’s great that we can offer our patients a world class and world first service. This software will really help us to get a more accurate view of the area which, with research, hopefully means we will be able to detect any bone weakness earlier than ever before and therefore begin treatment much sooner. This development is so important now as we are seeing an ageing population and osteoporosis tends to affect people in later life.”

See the full report on page 3 of the September 2014 issue of RAD Magazine.