BMD T Score (Right Femoral Neck) Test

The bone mineral density (BMD) T-score at the right femoral neck is one of the most clinically significant markers of skeletal health. It measures how dense and strong the bone is at a critical weight-bearing site, the narrow bridge connecting the femoral head (the ball of the hip joint) to the shaft of the femur. Because this area is prone to osteoporotic fractures, it’s central to assessing long-term fracture risk and overall bone integrity.

The T-score expresses how your BMD compares to a healthy young adult of the same sex. A score of 0 represents average bone density; -1.0 to -2.5 indicates osteopenia (mild bone loss), and -2.5 or lower signifies osteoporosis. These thresholds are universal across the World Health Organization’s definitions. The lower the score, the weaker the bone and the higher the fracture risk.

While both right and left femoral necks are often measured, studies show the two sides are nearly identical. In over 98% of individuals, measuring both does not change the diagnosis, making single-sided (usually left-sided) assessment sufficient for most cases. That said, right-sided measurements remain useful in cases of prior left hip injury, surgery, or asymmetric loading patterns.

Clinically, low femoral neck T-scores predict not only hip fractures but also major osteoporotic fractures, including spine and wrist, in both diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and aging can cause discordance between lumbar spine and femoral neck scores, so evaluating multiple skeletal sites gives a more complete picture.