Osteoporosis and fragility fracture

Osteoporosis is defined as a systemic bone disease with reduction in both bone density and microarchitectural integrity, resulting in an increase in fragility fracture risk. It is a multifactorial disease which, through effects on bone formation and resorption, reduces the peak bone mass achieved during early adulthood and increases the rate of bone loss in later adulthood. Osteoporosis is clinically silent until a fragility fracture occurs. There are 3 million patients with osteoporosis in the UK, with over 200 000 fractures per year and 80 000 hip fractures. This chapter addresses the causes, clinical features, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis.