title: EMAS position statement: The management of postmenopausal women with vertebral osteoporotic fracture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoporotic vertebral fractures are associated with significant morbidity, excess mortality as well as health and social service expenditure. Additionally, women with a prevalent osteoporotic vertebral fracture have a high risk of experiencing a further one within one year. It is therefore important for the physician to use a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for early detection and effective treatment of vertebral fractures.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this position statement is to provide and critically appraise evidence on the management of women with a vertebral osteoporotic fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review and consensus of expert opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The management of women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures includes measures to reduce pain providing early mobility, to support the affected spine ensuring fracture healing, as well as starting treatment for osteoporosis itself. Any other underlying pathology should be sought and treated. Early detection and treatment is essential as there is an increased risk of further fractures in patients with vertebral fractures. Treatment will depend on the underlying causes of bone loss, efficacy in any particular situation, cost and patient preference.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Research for the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS), School of Medicine, University of Athens, 10 Athinas Street, 14561 Kifissia, Greece. Electronic address: sportdoc@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Ioannis K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Triantafyllopoulos
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Athens, KAT General Hospital, 2 Nikis Street, 14561 Kifissia, Greece.
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lambropoulou-Adamidou
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Athens, 10 Athinas Street, 14561 Kifissia, Greece.
authors.forename: Cleopatra C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nacopoulos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Research for the Musculoskeletal System (LRMS), School of Medicine, University of Athens, 10 Athinas Street, 14561 Kifissia, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 'Dr. I. Cantacuzino' Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Iuliana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ceausu
authors.affiliation: Breast Clinic and Menopause Clinic, University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Depypere
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Valikonagi Cad. No. 93/4, Nisantasi, 34365 Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: C Tamer
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Erel
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zaragoza University Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Clínico, Zaragoza 50009, Spain.
authors.forename: Faustino R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Cardiology Unit and Head Centre for Gender Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Thorax N3:06, SE 17176 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schenck-Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Yvonne T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: van der Schouw
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 67, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.affiliation: Menopause and Metabolic Bone Disease Unit, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, F-31059 Toulouse cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tremollieres
authors.affiliation: Women's Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Capodestrian University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lambrinoudaki
mesh_terms: D032921:Consensus; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology*; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Conservative treatment; Diagnosis; Osteoporosis; Surgical treatment; Vertebral fracture