Forearm DXA Scan: A Valuable Supplement for Osteoporosis Detection in Older Adults, Study Finds

The researchers revealed that forearm BMD scans show a strong correlation with BMD measurements of the lumbar spine and femoral neck, highlighting their role as a valuable supplementary tool for osteoporosis detection. The meta-analysis of 5,941 participants reported pooled effect sizes of 0.603 for the lumbar spine and 0.641 for the femoral neck, reinforcing the clinical utility of forearm DXA, especially in older adults where lumbar or hip scans may not be feasible.

Osteoporosis is a major global health concern, contributing to increased fracture risk and reduced quality of life. While DXA scans of the lumbar spine and femoral neck are the gold standard for assessing bone mineral density, they are not always feasible in elderly patients due to degenerative changes, mobility issues, or the presence of surgical implants. Despite this, current osteoporosis guidelines do not consider forearm DXA a standard diagnostic tool, except in specific cases.

To address this gap, Chiara Ceolin, Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, via Giustiniani 2, Padova, Italy, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between forearm BMD and BMD measurements at the lumbar spine and/or hip sites, assessing its potential as a supplementary diagnostic method.

For this purpose, the researchers registered the protocol in PROSPERO and adhered to PRISMA guidelines. They systematically searched major databases until August 2024 for studies assessing forearm DXA scans in detecting osteoporosis compared to central sites like the femoral neck and lumbar spine. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies reporting correlation coefficients between these measurements. Three reviewers independently assessed study quality using QUADAS-2 criteria, and a narrative synthesis was performed to summarize key findings across different patient groups.

Key Findings

• Thirteen studies published between 1992 and 2023 were included, involving 5,941 participants.
• Forearm DXA scans showed strong correlations with lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD, with pooled effect sizes of 0.603 (95% CI 0.579–0.627) and 0.641 (95% CI 0.600–0.680), respectively.
• Forearm BMD demonstrated good predictive value for central osteoporosis.
• Despite some variations in results, forearm DXA scanning proved to be a valid alternative, particularly in cases where lumbar or femoral assessments are difficult to perform.

The researchers demonstrated a strong correlation between forearm BMD and standard DXA measurements, highlighting the distal forearm as a valuable supplementary site for osteoporosis detection.

"Forearm DXA scans could aid in diagnosing osteoporosis, especially in older adults where lumbar or femoral assessments are unreliable. However, further research is needed to validate these findings across diverse patient groups," they concluded.

Reference:

Papa, M.V., Ceolin, C., Simonato, C. et al. The correlation between bone mineral density measured at the forearm and at the lumbar spine or femoral neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 26, 151 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08376-7