What does a DEXA scan of the spine show?

During the scan, you lie still while the machine measures bone mineral content through the lower back. The report compares your measurement with reference values and may give a score that helps the clinician judge whether bone density is within the expected range or reduced. Arthritis, spinal wear, surgical hardware and vertebral shape can affect how the lower-spine reading is interpreted. For that reason, the hip and spine results are considered together rather than treating one number as the whole diagnosis.

Wear clothing without bulky metal fasteners if the imaging centre advises this, and tell staff about pregnancy, recent contrast imaging, spinal surgery or metal near the area. Follow the centre's instructions about supplements or medicines. Once the report is available, ask which reading guided the interpretation and whether the hip measurement supports it. The [Bone Density Scan](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/bone-density-scan/) page explains the wider test, while the [DEXA Scanner](/technology/dexa-scanner/) page describes the equipment.

Contact a clinician promptly for new or persistent back pain, loss of height, or pain after a minor movement, because a vertebral fracture can occur without a dramatic accident. Get urgent help for back pain with leg weakness, numbness around the groin, or new bladder or bowel difficulty. A DEXA result cannot explain every cause of spinal pain.

Was my spine result reliable to interpret? How does it compare with my hip result? Is there evidence of a vertebral fracture? What habits or treatment would protect my bones?