Helpful information before your bone health consultation
Practical guidance for patients seeing Professor Richard Keen for osteoporosis, fracture risk, metabolic bone disease or rare bone conditions. This page explains what to bring, what may be discussed and how to prepare for your appointment.
The more information available before or during your appointment, the easier it is to build a clear picture of your bone health and future fracture risk.
A bone health consultation is most useful when your scan results, medical history and treatment history can be reviewed together.
Patients often come to Professor Keen after a DEXA bone density scan, a fragility fracture, an abnormal blood test or a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Others may have a rare or complex bone condition that needs a more detailed specialist review.
This patient information page brings together the practical questions people often ask before booking or attending a consultation. It is designed to help you feel more prepared, more informed and clearer about what may happen next.
- How to prepare for your appointment
- What DEXA scan results may mean
- Why fracture risk matters
- How treatment options may be discussed
What to bring to your appointment
Bringing relevant medical information helps Professor Keen understand your diagnosis, previous treatment, fracture history and any underlying factors that may affect your bone health.
You do not need to have every document available before making contact, but the more complete the information is, the easier it is to provide a detailed and personalised opinion.
Useful information to bring or send
- Previous clinic letters or referral letters
- DEXA bone density scan reports
- Blood test results, including calcium and vitamin D where available
- X-ray, MRI or CT scan reports if relevant
- A list of current medication and supplements
- Details of previous osteoporosis treatments
- Details of previous fractures, falls or injuries
- Relevant family history of osteoporosis or fractures
Osteoporosis is about bone strength, not just a scan score
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become less strong and are more likely to break after a minor fall or injury. It is often described using DEXA scan results, but the scan is only one part of the wider assessment.
Professor Keen will consider your scan results alongside your age, fracture history, medical background, medication, blood tests, family history and future risk. This helps guide whether treatment, monitoring or further investigation may be needed.
Reasons patients may seek specialist advice
- A new diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia
- A fragility fracture after a minor fall
- Concerns about future fracture risk
- Uncertainty about whether medication is needed
- Side effects or worries about osteoporosis treatment
- Previous treatment that may need review
- Possible secondary causes of reduced bone density
Making sense of bone density scans
DEXA scans are commonly used to measure bone density and help assess fracture risk. Many patients receive a report with terms such as T-score, Z-score, osteopenia or osteoporosis, but are not always sure what these mean in practical terms.
A specialist review can help explain how your scan result fits with your overall clinical picture, whether further tests are needed and what options may be appropriate for protecting bone health over time.
Common points discussed
- What your T-score or Z-score means
- Whether the result suggests osteopenia or osteoporosis
- How scan results relate to fracture risk
- Whether previous scans show a change over time
- Whether blood tests or other investigations are needed
- How often monitoring may be appropriate
Why fracture risk matters
A fragility fracture can sometimes be the first sign of reduced bone strength. Fractures of the spine, hip, wrist, shoulder or pelvis may lead to further investigation, especially if the injury happened after a low-impact fall or minor trauma.
Specialist assessment can help identify why a fracture occurred, whether osteoporosis or another bone condition may be involved, and what can be done to reduce the risk of future fractures.
Assessment may include
- Review of how the fracture happened
- Review of any previous fractures
- DEXA scan interpretation where available
- Blood tests to look for underlying causes
- Medication and lifestyle review
- Falls risk and mobility considerations
- Treatment planning to reduce future risk
Understanding your treatment choices
Treatment for osteoporosis or metabolic bone disease depends on the diagnosis, fracture risk, previous treatment, blood test results, other medical conditions and personal preferences. Not every patient needs the same approach.
Professor Keen can discuss the options available, explain the potential benefits and risks, and help decide whether monitoring, medication, further investigation or specialist treatment is the most appropriate next step.
Treatment discussions may cover
- Lifestyle, diet and exercise advice
- Vitamin D and calcium optimisation
- Oral osteoporosis treatments
- Injection treatments where appropriate
- Infusion treatments where appropriate
- Monitoring, follow-up and repeat scans
- Reviewing previous or current treatment plans
Simple steps before and after your consultation
The aim is to make the process clear and practical, from booking the appointment through to receiving advice about investigations, treatment or ongoing monitoring.
Make contact
Contact the office to ask about appointment availability, clinic locations and whether any information should be sent before your consultation.
Prepare your records
Gather scan reports, blood tests, clinic letters, medication details and fracture history where available.
Attend your consultation
Your appointment will focus on understanding the clinical picture and explaining what the results may mean.
Discuss next steps
Depending on your situation, next steps may include further tests, treatment, monitoring or lifestyle advice.
Plan follow-up
Some patients need review appointments, repeat scans or monitoring to assess treatment response over time.
Protect long-term bone health
The longer-term focus is reducing avoidable fracture risk and supporting mobility, confidence and independence.
Common patient questions
These answers are intended to help patients understand what may be needed before booking or attending a specialist bone health consultation.
Do I need a referral to see Professor Keen?
Referral requirements can vary depending on how the appointment is arranged and whether insurance is involved. Please contact the office for guidance before booking.
Do I need a DEXA scan before booking?
Not always. If you already have a DEXA scan report, please bring it or send it in advance. If further imaging is needed, this can be discussed as part of your assessment.
Can Professor Keen review previous osteoporosis treatment?
Yes. Patients often seek advice because they have already started treatment, have had side effects, are unsure whether to continue, or need a second opinion about their long-term plan.
Which clinic location should I attend?
Professor Keen sees patients at more than one clinic location. The office can advise on appointment availability and which location is most suitable when you contact them.
Can I be seen for a rare bone condition?
Yes. Professor Keen has specialist expertise in metabolic bone disease and rare bone conditions. Please provide any existing letters, genetic results, imaging or specialist reports if available.
What should I do if I have had a recent fracture?
If you have had a recent fracture, bring any imaging reports, discharge summaries and clinic letters. Professor Keen can advise on bone health assessment and future fracture prevention where appropriate.
Specialist advice for osteoporosis, fracture risk and rare bone disease
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, have had a fragility fracture, are concerned about your bone density or need advice about a rare bone condition, please contact the office to arrange a private consultation.
Contact details
For private appointments and general enquiries, please contact the office.