Medical imaging systems and surgical products developer Hologic has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Single Energy (SE) Femur Exam on its dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) platform.
The exam will help in assessing AFF during a hip bone density scan with little or no patient repositioning and at the time of osteoporosis assessment.
With the 15-second SE Femur Exam, physicians can visualise features associated with developing atypical femur fractures (AFF) in patients who are on anti-resorptive treatments like bisphosphonates.
A high resolution image of the entire femur is produced by the SE Femur Exam, with a very low dose of radiation.
Hologic specialty imaging products marketing vice-president John Jenkins said that the development of Single Energy Femur Exam is an effort to provide clinicians with the critical information needed to effectively manage patient care and improve fracture-related outcomes.
"By including a convenient way for the physician to assess possible developing AFFs, early medical intervention may avoid the significant morbidity of a complete atypical femur fracture," Jenkins said.
Hologic scientific director of skeletal health Dr Kevin Wilson said: "The 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Task Force on atypical femoral fracture emphasised that physicians should ask patients on bisphosphonates about thigh or groin pain, as this often precedes atypical femur fractures."
