Abstract: Bone density is the best quantitative indicator for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. The bone density of lumbar spine and hip measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry is the gold standard for the clinical diagnosis of osteoporosis. For some patients, such as age, diseases and other factors resulting in inaccurate results of the lumbar spine and the hip bone density detection, forearm bone density test can be used as a powerful supplement to the routine bone density detection. This article reviews the application value, advantages and problems of forearm bone density detection in osteoporosis.