Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disorder characterized by the reduction of bone mass and the deterioration of bone structure, which causes fragility and increased risk of fracture by Osteoporosis, even with minimal trauma. It is chronic, of multifactorial aetiology and, under normal conditions, without symptoms.

Osteoporosis is generally asymptomatic until a fracture occurs, although patients may notice a loss of stature and an increasingly pronounced kyphosis; prevention is therefore a key aspect of treatment. Patients may present with an Osteoporosis fracture after minimal trauma to a typical location, such as a vertebra, proximal third of the femur, or distal third of the radius.

Bone is not an inert and lifeless material, but is in continuous remodelling thanks to the action of some cells that produce bone matrix, while others destroy it. The former are called osteoblasts and are responsible for bone formation, while the latter, called osteoclasts, cause bone resorption.

The diagnosis of Osteoporosis is always carried out by the exhaustive control of the patient in which personal and/or family antecedents of back pain can be ascertained. Osteoporosis is silent and usually manifests itself with a hip fracture or a vertebral fracture.

The diagnostic methods can be x-rays, analysis with biological markers or tests such as bone densitometry or the latest generation such as ultrasound quantification, still little known.

X-rays of the affected area, hip, humerus or carpus will be obtained in symptomatic patients. In asymptomatic individuals at risk, lateral X-rays of the spine will be obtained in search of a possible vertebral fracture. X-rays may show fractures or other diseases, such as osteoarthritis, disc disease or spondylolisthesis.

Osteopenia (decreased bone mineral density) can produce radiotransparency, but is not evident until 30% of bone mineral has been lost.

A simple x-ray is not as accurate as bone densitometry for Bone Mineral Density testing. This is the best predictor of fracture risk. Even though a determination at any location can be used to evaluate the overall fracture risk.