Home » Bone Metabolic Unit

Bone Metabolic Unit

The Bone Metabolic Unit (BMU) is the new Center for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Osteoporosis, born from the experience of the NefroCenter group. The center aims to be a national reference point for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. The center collaborates with Rheumatologists, Endocrinologists, Orthopedists, Physiatrists, Diabetologists, Nephrologists, Radiologists specialized in the musculoskeletal system, internists, and experts in predictive analysis with neural networks

Osteoporosis and the Importance of Prevention

Osteoporosis is a chronic skeletal disease that involves both a quantitative and qualitative reduction of bone tissue, making bones more fragile and prone to fractures, even following minor traumas. The most affected areas are the spine and femur, and femoral fractures, in particular, are associated with a high rate of mortality and disability. It is estimated that over 75 million people worldwide are affected by osteoporosis, of which about 5 million in Italy alone. The majority are women, especially after menopause. Often, the disease does not present obvious symptoms until a fracture occurs, and by that time, the damage is already very advanced.

Forms of Osteoporosis and Related Pathologies

The BMU center addresses various forms of osteoporosis:

Primary osteoporosis: divided into postmenopausal and senile.
Secondary osteoporosis: caused by other diseases (endocrinological, rheumatological, gastroenterological) and can affect young people as well.
Diabetic osteopathy: more related to bone quality than quantity, frequent in diabetic patients.
Renal osteodystrophy: a complication of chronic renal failure due to imbalances in calcium-phosphorus metabolism and secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Who Can Turn to the BMU

The project is designed for various patient profiles:

People with postmenopausal osteoporosis
Elderly at risk of fractures
Nephropathic patients
People with diabetes
Those with a family history of osteoporosis
Those who have already had fragility fractures

The Main Risk Factors

Among the most relevant factors that can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis are:

Low body mass index (underweight)
Prolonged use of corticosteroids
Smoking, alcohol, excess caffeine
Physical inactivity
Advanced age
Female gender
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis
Previous fractures

Center Objectives

The Bone Metabolic Unit was created with the aim of:

Providing a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic bone diseases
Integrating innovative technological tools and artificial intelligence, such as neural networks, to analyze large clinical databases
Improving diagnostic and therapeutic appropriateness, offering personalized pathways for each patient

The diagnostic-therapeutic pathway

Each patient is followed through a pathway that includes:

Specialist evaluations (rheumatological, nephrological, diabetological, endocrinological, orthopedic…)
Advanced diagnostic tests
Therapeutic education
Clinical monitoring and follow-up
Personalized therapeutic indications, both pharmacological and behavioral

Reference Diagnostic Tests

The BMU adopts cutting-edge technologies for a more precise and comprehensive diagnosis of osteoporosis:

Bone Densitometry (DXA) with Trabecular Bone Score (TBS)

In addition to bone mineral density (BMD), TBS assesses the trabecular microarchitecture of the bone, which is fundamental for identifying fracture risk even in patients with “normal” BMD values, as in the case of diabetes.

Bone Strain Index (BSI)

Estimates the mechanical strength of the bone based on density and load distribution, helping to predict the risk of vertebral and femoral failure.

Hip Structural Analysis (HSA)

Analyzes hip geometry, assessing cortical thickness and resistance to torsional loads. Useful for estimating the risk of femur fracture.

Densitometric and radiological Vertebral Morphometry

Allows the identification of “silent” vertebral fractures, not perceived by the patient but clinically relevant, through the measurement of vertebral body height according to the Genant scale.

Therapeutic Indications

The treatment of osteoporosis at the BMU includes advice on lifestyle, physical activity, and nutrition. In addition to targeted pharmacological therapies to reduce the risk of fractures and primary prevention measures to slow down or stop the progression of the disease.