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The Pathophysiology of Osteoporosis

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Book cover Osteoporosis

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP))

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a clinical syndrome of reduced bone mass and increased fracture susceptibility. In most cases, the disease is characterized by back pain from recurrent vertebral compressions, although fractures of the distal tibia, hip, ribs, or wrist can be the initial presentation. The vast majority of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in men and women now confirm an increased risk for fracture if bone mineral density (BMD) (spine, hip, wrist, or total body) is more than 1 SD below predicted for a healthy 35-yrold person. The relative risk/U SD is approx 2.5, and increases exponentially with the number of previous vertebral fractures and the extent of reduction in BMD (1,2)

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Authors
  1. Cathy R. Kessenich DSCN
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  2. Clifford J. Rosen MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Maine Center for Osteoporosis Research and Education, St. Joseph Hospital, Bangor, Maine, USA

    Clifford J. Rosen MD

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Kessenich, C.R., Rosen, C.J. (1996). The Pathophysiology of Osteoporosis. In: Rosen, C.J. (eds) Osteoporosis. Current Clinical Practice. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0221-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0221-9_4

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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