The Progression of Osteoporosis: An Orthopaedist's Challenge. Courtesy of Geoffrey B. Higgs, MD

Osteoporosis is a major health problem, affecting 28 million Americans and contributing to an estimated 1.5 million bone fractures per year.

One in two women and one in five men over age 65 will sustain bone fractures due to osteoporosis. Many of these are painful fractures of the hip, spine, wrist, arm and leg that often occur as a result of a fall. However, even simple household tasks can produce a fracture of the spine if the bones have been weakened by the disease.

The most serious and debilitating osteoporotic fracture is the hip fracture. Most hip fracture patients who previously lived independently will require help from their family or home care. All hip fracture patients will require walking aids for several months, and nearly half will permanently need canes or walkers to move around their house or outdoors. Hip fractures are expensive. Health care costs from hip fractures total more than $10 billion annually - $35,000 per patient.

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