The challenge: fracture treatment in osteoporotic bone

Excerpt

Research in osteoporosis has focused so far on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and monitoring of the disease, as well as on its metabolic and cellular basis and the effects of novel therapeutic concepts. Significant progress has been made in each of these areas. In addition, the periods of life in which osteoporosis research is interested have been extended from the postmenopausal years to childhood, adolescence, and advanced senescence. Since the last group is increasing in size due to the prolonged life expectancy in most societies, osteoporosis research in the elderly, particularly with regard to hip fractures, is of growing importance. This situation is more and more of concern for orthopedic and trauma surgeons. Indeed, treatment of osteoporosis may be part of the treatment of fractures. Only recently has attention been given to the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in patients who have suffered a fracture. Trauma surgeons are realizing that fracture patients need to be treated with attention to the underlying osteoporosis in order to reduce the incidence of further fractures in the patients at risk. …