Osteology service

Centre for Osteoporosis and Osteology in Wolgast

An abnormal finding or a fracture raises questions. Within our osteology service, we consider bone density, previous fractures and other risk factors together. Here you can find out what an assessment involves and which next steps may suit your situation.

Book an appointment Meet the clinicians

Your osteology assessment, step by step

Prepare
Your appointment confirmation includes preparation advice. Complete the questionnaire sent to you and gather existing results, your lists of diagnoses and medicines, and details of previous fractures. If you cannot do this digitally, our team can help you complete it at the practice. Please follow the instructions about your arrival time for this.
Assessment with our team
Hand in your previous results at reception for scanning. Our team will discuss your information with you, clarify outstanding points and carry out the planned physical and functional assessments. The doctor then decides which additional investigations you need, such as laboratory tests, a DXA bone density scan or X-rays. Not every patient needs every investigation.
Bringing the findings together
Some results, particularly laboratory results, may only become available after your practice visit. This means the examination does not always lead to a final treatment recommendation on the same day. Once the necessary findings are available, our doctors assess your overall situation and personal fracture risk.
Clarify the next steps
The doctor’s assessment and recommendation are recorded in a report. Your GP receives the report, and you can receive it on request too. It describes the recommended treatment or further investigations and who will provide them.
Continue with appropriate care
Suitable treatment with tablets can then be discussed and started at your GP practice. If OrthoCoast provides a specialist treatment, such as an infusion or a more complex sequence of treatments, we provide the information, treatment and ongoing care here. If no specific osteoporosis medicine is currently needed, you receive advice on bone health and reassessment. Arrange the recommended next appointments with the practice responsible for your care.

Please ask if the recommendation or next steps are not yet clear. Treatment decisions, possible alternatives and your questions are discussed before treatment begins. The precise sequence depends on your situation; we cannot promise that several investigations will take place on the same day in every case.

Documents for your visit · DXA and costs at our practice · Contact and directions

Open individual sections or all the details on this page.

Understanding

A closer look

A fracture after a minor fall can change your confidence in your body. Suddenly you may wonder whether even everyday activities could become dangerous. You may be coming to us for a very different reason: a DXA scan showed an abnormal result, a medicine may be affecting your bones, or treatment already under way has raised new questions. Within OrthoCoast’s osteology service, we aim to assess your bone health in its wider context. Our goal is to explain your personal fracture risk clearly and plan treatment that supports your mobility and independence.

Questions that may bring you to us

Osteology is the medical field concerned with bone diseases. Osteoporosis is an important part of it. Your question may be whether you have a condition at all, why a fracture occurred or which treatment is appropriate for your level of risk. A fresh assessment may also be needed during treatment. Perhaps you are not tolerating a medicine well, another condition has developed, or you do not know how long treatment should continue. These questions are easier to answer when previous findings, fractures and treatments are considered together. We aim to identify an increased fracture risk before the first fracture occurs whenever possible. An assessment can therefore be useful even if you feel physically capable and have never had a fracture. We clarify with you which investigations are needed based on your combination of risk factors.

Looking beyond a fracture

After a fracture, the initial priorities are healing, pain management and regaining movement. At the same time, we consider whether reduced bone strength contributed and how further fractures might best be prevented. How the accident happened matters for this assessment. A fracture following a low level of force may be a reason for an osteology assessment. Discharge reports and existing images help us build on your previous care. Treating the fracture and treating an increased fracture risk serve different purposes and should be coordinated appropriately.

Diagnosis and treatment

From findings to a personal risk assessment

A bone density value is important information, but it describes only part of your situation. Previous fractures, age, certain conditions and medicines also affect the likelihood of a fracture. How safely you move and whether you have already fallen matter too. A structured osteology assessment brings this information together. For example, we ask about the circumstances of a fracture and previous treatments. Several individual findings then provide a basis for deciding how urgently treatment may be needed and what extent of treatment may be appropriate.

The role of DXA

A DXA bone density scan measures bone mineral density at selected sites, usually the lumbar spine and hip. It helps identify reduced bone density and assess fracture risk. When interpreting the findings, the doctor also considers whether the measurement can be reliably interpreted. If you have already had a DXA scan, please bring the complete report and any earlier measurements for comparison if possible. A single number without information about the site measured and the date is often insufficient for a meaningful comparison. Whether another measurement is needed depends on your situation.

Why laboratory tests are sometimes added

Reduced bone density can occur in a range of medical contexts. Laboratory tests can help identify signs of other bone metabolism disorders or factors that need to be considered during treatment. The tests needed depend on the question being investigated. Laboratory results can also be important for choosing medication safely, for example if another condition is present. The investigation therefore has a specific purpose. A more extensive set of laboratory tests does not automatically provide more useful information.

Tailoring treatment to your risk and everyday life

Care includes advice on nutrition, movement, bone health and fall prevention, as well as osteoporosis medication where indicated. The choice depends on individual risk, previous fractures, possible contraindications and previous treatments. Some medicines slow bone breakdown, while others promote bone formation. Which option suits you cannot be decided from a DXA value alone. Practical considerations matter too: it must be possible to follow the treatment reliably. If you are concerned about side effects or have difficulty taking the medicine, please raise this early. Treatment comes with a plan for ongoing review. This includes when reassessment is needed and what to consider if treatment is interrupted or changed. Please do not stop osteoporosis medicines without consulting your treating clinician.

Moving more safely and maintaining independence

Understandably, osteoporosis can sometimes make people worry about injury during movement. However, an appropriate level of activity depends on your bone strength, any fractures and your starting physical condition. Building up strength and balance in a way that suits you can help you feel safer in everyday life. Fall prevention often begins with specific observations. Do you feel dizzy when standing up? Do you feel unsteady on uneven ground? Have you limited where you go after a fall? This information helps us discuss suitable measures. Recommendations should address what you actually need and can put into practice in everyday life. We include your muscles in this assessment. BIA using the seca mBCA adds information about muscle mass and body composition. Strength measurements and functional tests also show how you can use your existing muscles in everyday life. When bone loss and sarcopenia occur together, this is called osteosarcopenia. The results help us consider what action is needed for both your bones and muscles.

Your visit

What you can bring to the consultation

Previous DXA reports, fracture reports and an up-to-date medication list are helpful. If possible, also note which osteoporosis medicines you have received and when you last took a dose or had an injection or infusion. Relevant existing laboratory results can be included. You do not need to make your own medical assessment of these documents. Tell us if something is missing or you cannot remember a treatment name. It is important to make uncertainties clear so that further planning is based on reliable information. Please also bring an up-to-date list of diagnoses. For previous X-rays, MRI or CT scans, we would like both the written report and the images if possible, for example through a QR code or on a CD.

Have your bone health assessed

If you would like to understand your risk, discuss an abnormal finding or review ongoing osteoporosis treatment, contact us through ‘Appointments & enquiries’. Briefly state whether you already have a diagnosis or have had a fracture. The investigations needed and the cost arrangements that apply are clarified for your particular care. The medical recommendation and the question of cost coverage are considered separately. At OrthoCoast, we offer DXA bone density scanning as a self-funded service. Our practice is not authorised to bill German statutory health insurance for this examination. Before the examination, we explain the planned scope of the service and the expected costs. You will find information about arranging the scan on our DXA page.

Our doctors in this specialty

Prof. Dr. med. habil.Hans-Christof Schober

Specialist in internal medicine; subspecialist in endocrinology

DVO-certified osteologist

View profile

Dr. med.Christoph Jährling

Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery

DVO-certified osteologist

View profile

Björn Weidemann

Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery

DVO-certified osteologist

View profile

Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil.Richard Kasch

Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery

View profile

Meet our medical team for bone health here. Together, we discuss the questions that matter for your bones and your everyday life.

The doctors in our osteology service

Prof. Dr. med. habil. Hans-Christof Schober, Dr. med. Christoph Jährling, Björn Weidemann and Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch provide osteology care at OrthoCoast. Hans-Christof Schober, Christoph Jährling and Björn Weidemann are DVO-certified osteologists. Prof. Dr. med. habil. Hans-Christof Schober contributes expertise in internal medicine and endocrinology. Dr. med. Christoph Jährling, Björn Weidemann and Priv. Doz. Dr. med. habil. Richard Kasch are specialists in orthopaedics and trauma surgery. Our shared scope of care includes osteoporosis assessment and fracture risk evaluation, interpretation of DXA results, laboratory investigations in osteology, treatment and follow-up. As a member of the guideline committee, Prof. Schober contributed to the 2023 DVO osteoporosis guideline. Each doctor’s profile lists their qualifications. We will agree with you which clinic best suits your needs.

Frequently asked questions

Can I request an assessment even if I have no pain?

Yes. Reduced bone strength can be present for a long time without symptoms. Whether an assessment is appropriate for you depends on your risk factors and what difference the result would make to your care.

Is it enough to give you just my T-score?

The complete measurement report is more helpful for a full assessment. The area measured, the date and any particular features affect interpretation. Personal risk factors and previous fractures are also taken into account.

Can treatment still help after a fracture?

After an osteoporotic fracture, assessing the risk of further fractures is particularly worthwhile. The options depend on your overall situation. This assessment does not replace care for the current fracture; it complements it by considering your bones’ future strength.

How often does osteoporosis treatment need reviewing?

The intervals depend on the medicine, how treatment is progressing, accompanying conditions and upcoming decisions. A review may include a discussion, examination, laboratory tests or, where appropriate, a repeat measurement. Not every follow-up appointment requires another DXA scan.

Is this service also suitable for men?

Yes. Osteoporosis also affects men. The cause, risk profile and treatment must be assessed individually. Reduced bone strength should be taken just as seriously in men as in women.

What should I do about side effects or a missed dose?

Contact the practice treating you and give the name of the medicine and the scheduled or actual date of the dose. Some treatments need a specific follow-on plan if interrupted. Please do not change or stop treatment on your own.

Can I transfer osteoporosis or other osteology treatment already under way to OrthoCoast?

If your bone density was measured at another practice within the past 18 months and osteology care began there, we ask you to continue treatment there for the time being. In exceptional cases, we agree a transfer of a recently started course of care with the practice currently treating you. If your previous doctor has stopped practising, we can take over your ongoing care by arrangement. Please tell us where you have been treated and the date of your last osteology assessment when you first enquire. Please also bring your previous osteology assessments. Regardless of this, do not wait for routine appointment arrangements if you develop new acute symptoms.

Your next step

Osteoporosis · leaflet

Original leaflet available as a PDF · 1383 KB.

Open and download the leaflet (German)

Centre for Osteoporosis and Osteology in Wolgast

Your osteology assessment, step by step

Prepare

Assessment with our team

Bringing the findings together

Clarify the next steps

Continue with appropriate care