Osteoporosis is a disease that is the most common bone disease in humans and is characterized by low bone mass and skeletal fragility, which results in an increased risk of fracture.
Osteoporosis is a disease that is the most common bone disease in humans and is characterized by low bone mass and skeletal fragility, which results in an increased risk of fracture. Annually, two million fractures are attributed to osteoporosis, causing more than 432,000 hospital admissions, almost 2.5 million medical office visits, and about 180,000 nursing home admissions in the USA. Osteoporotic fractures, also known as fragility fractures, are those occurring from a fall from a standing height or less, without major trauma such as a motor vehicle accident.
The most common areas affected are the spine, hip, wrist, humerus and pelvis. The geriatric hip fracture fracture ranks as the third most expensive musculoskeletal diagnosis for the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), following only hip and knee arthroplasty. Fractures of the hip and spine are associated with an increased mortality rate of 10 to 20 percent.
A personal history of vertebral fracture has been shown to increase the risk of subsequent fractures 5-fold and the risk of hip and other fractures 2 to 3 fold. As the population ages, the number of patients at risk will continue to increase. The best interest of both the patient and society remains preventing these fractures.
Many strategies and programs have been proposed for patients who present with acute fragility fractures, but the overwhelming majority are not effectively treated to prevent secondary fractures. Bone strength is typically determined by bone mineral density (BMD), bone geometry, degree of mineralization, microarchitecture and bone turnover. The measurement of bone mineral density is vital in the detection of osteoporosis and fracture risk increased exponentially as BMD decreases.
BMD measurements remain an integral component of all tools to assess an individual’s absolute risk of fragility fractures because it has been shown to be an excellent predictor of future fracture risk. This is usually done with using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and this is the gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and low bone mass. The World Health Organization diagnostic classification defines osteoporosis by BMD at the hip or spine less than 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass (young adult gender matched population), which is more commonly labeled as T-score.
If you are experiencing symptoms that may be related to fragility fractures: introduction, it is important to see a sports medicine physician. Early evaluation and treatment typically lead to better outcomes. Do not ignore pain or symptoms that are limiting your activity.
*This article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.*
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