Femoral Neck Osteopenia: Causes, Symptoms & Diagnosis

Femoral neck osteopenia is a loss of bone mass in the area of the thigh bone called the femoral neck.

Femoral Neck

• The femur (thigh bone) has a large, ball-like surface that fits into the hip socket and a short femoral neck that leads to the long shaft of the bone. Bone density tests often use the femoral neck as a testing place.

Osteopenia

• Osteopenia is loss of bone mass that is not severe enough to be considered osteoporosis.

Bone Density Tests

• Bone density tests provide a result known as a T-score. A score greater than -1 is normal bone. A T-score between -1 and -2.5 is osteopenia, and a score less than -2.5 is osteoporosis.

Considerations

• You can have one T-score at the femoral neck, another at the hip bone and another at the spine, so discussing your test results with your doctor is important to determine your best course of action.

Expert Insight

• According to the University of Washington, T-score by itself does not predict fractures, and osteopenia is a description of bone mass, not a disease.