title: Osteoporosis and the orthopaedic surgeon: basic concepts for successful co-management of patients' bone health.
abstract: Osteoporosis has been recognised as a public health concern for at least three decades but it has been relatively recent that the push has been for orthopaedic surgeons to take a more active role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Most often these patients are encountered after they have suffered a fracture making secondary prevention the area where orthopaedists may exert the greatest influence on patient care. The purpose of this article is to provide a succinct framework for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with decreased BMD. Patients are deemed to have decreased BMD if they have suffered a fragility fracture, a fracture caused by a low-energy traumatic event. These patients are often encountered in the emergency department and admitted for further treatment of their fractures or recommended for follow-up in the clinic. Regardless of treatment course these are opportunities for the orthopaedic surgeon to intervene in the osteoporotic disease process and positively affect a patient's bone health. This article compiles the available literature on osteoporosis and presents it succinctly with the incorporation of both a diagnosis algorithm and treatment profile table. With the use of these two tools, orthopaedic surgeons everywhere should be able to take a more active role in their patients' bone health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Denver Health Medical Center, 777 Bannock Street, 80204, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: Derly O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Cuellar
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Philip F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Stahel
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hak
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mauffrey
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D066231:Surgeons