Osteoporosis: An Underlying Culprit

Older people who break a bone in a fall from no greater than their standing height – called a “fragility fracture” – are two to five times more likely to suffer another than someone who has not suffered such a break, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF).

And it appears to be progressive – if they suffer a second fracture the odds of a third are even higher. Surprisingly, many of these seniors are not tested or treated for what causes most of these fractures.

In fact, the underlying culprit is often osteoporosis, a progressive disease that decreases the weight and density of bones, making them more brittle. Osteoporosis doesn’t have any obvious symptoms, only coming to light when fractures occur.

According to the NOF, approximately half of all women and one-quarter of all men will suffer at least one fragility fracture after age 50.

 “Identifying and treating the underlying cause is equally important so we can prevent fractures from occurring and enable our patients to continue doing the activities they enjoy,” said Cynthia Emory, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.