When Ahmad from Derby was born, his parents, and his GP, didn’t understand why he was always crying in discomfort. As he grew, he began to suffer unexplained injuries like broken bones and fractures. Eventually, his doctor referred him to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where he was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease.
Sheffield Children’s metabolic bone team is internationally recognised for its expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of bone conditions like this. With £75,000 raised through generous donations, a DXA bone density scanner was added to the hospital’s equipment-keeping the service at the cutting edge of care.
The scanner is sensitive enough to be used with babies, providing fast and accurate diagnosis from the earliest stage of life. Early intervention can dramatically improve long-term health outcomes for children living with brittle bone conditions like Ahmad.
