A patient has a T-score of -2.7 with one prior fracture. This condition is categorized as:

• A. Osteopenia
• B. Osteoporosis
• C. Normal bone density
• D. Severe osteoporosis

Answer: (D)

A T-score compares bone density to a young healthy reference group. A score of -2.7 means bone density is about 2.7 standard deviations below that reference, which places it in the osteoporosis range (threshold is -2.5 or lower). The fact that there is a prior fracture signals fragility, and when osteoporosis is present with a fragility fracture, the condition is termed severe osteoporosis. So this combination—osteoporosis plus a fragility fracture—best fits the category of severe osteoporosis. Osteopenia would be a T-score between -1.0 and -2.5, and normal density would be around -1.0 or higher, so those do not apply here.