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Several factors likely key in stemming tide of fragility fractures
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The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates 54 million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis, with 50% of women and 25% of men older than 50 years expected to have an osteoporosis-related fragility fracture.
“There are between 1.5 million and 2 million fragility fractures in the United States, about 300,000 hip fractures and about 750,000 vertebral fractures that occur every year,” Susan V. Bukata, MD, told Orthopedics Today.
However, according to Laura L. Tosi, MD, the rate of hip fractures has been declining since the mid-1990s, which may be due to people taking better care of themselves.
“Prior to the mid-1990s, hip fracture rates were going steadily upward. Since the mid-1990s, they have been going down and we do not understand why that is,” Tosi said. “We are seeing a phenomenal change in the physiologic well-being of our citizenry. They are exercising more and they have better nutrition. People, particularly in the United States, are smoking less, drinking less and wearing their seat belts.”
Click here to read the full Cover Story in the September issue of Orthopedics Today.