"The most important thing an orthopedic surgeon should know about osteoporosis/fracture prevention is that we can take action that helps to prevent hip and other fragility fractures," Dell said. "Simple steps like suggesting calcium and vitamin D for all your patients and bone mineral density testing in patients at higher risk for osteoporosis should be considered part of your daily practice."

More than 300,000 hip fractures are reported annually in the United States. Twenty-four percent of people who experience a hip fracture end up in a nursing home, 50 percent never reach their functional capacity, and 25 percent of patients over 65 years of age with a hip fracture die in the first year after the incident.

"After a fracture, you need treatment, and in America, most people are not getting the treatment they need," Dell said. "The lesson here is if you are over 50 years old and have a fragility fracture, ask your doctor about getting a bone density scan, and if needed, osteoporosis treatment."

Dr. Dell further states that understanding the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and fragility fractures helps to develop a treatment strategy for your patients. The medical management of osteoporosis is not always complex and can be done by most practicing orthopedic surgeons.

Source: Kaiser Permanente