title: Managing atrophic nonunion in the geriatric population: incidence, distribution, and causes.
abstract: Osteoporosis is a systemic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is estimated that 50% of women and approximately 20% of men more than 50 years of age will sustain a fragility fracture. The cause of nonunion in patients with osteoporosis is likely multifactorial, and includes age-related changes in fracture repair as well as challenges in achieving stable internal fixation. This article discusses fracture healing in patients with osteoporosis and the principles of fixation. Pharmacotherapy for the patient with osteoporosis is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
authors.forename: Bryon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hobby
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy; D018786:Bone Substitutes; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D010521:Periosteum / Q000166:cytology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D018786:Bone Substitutes