Consequences of Osteoporosis

What are the Consequences of Osteoporosis ?

Osteoporosis can lead to fractures at different sites of body. One in three women and one in five men will have a fracture of the hip ( neck of femur or thigh bone) after 65 years of age. Of these, about 15-20 per cent may die within a year and about half become dependent on some kind of support for walking. There is a popular saying in this context:
One comes into this world through the pelvis but goes out of it through the neck of femur. This is because fracture of the hip makes the elderly bedridden, leading to slow decline followed by death. 
Fractures of the spine also result in height loss (indicates collapse of a spinal vertebra), stooping, postural changes and persistent pain that interferes with routine activities. It may also lead to loss or lack of bladder control and in some, even paralysis. 

The risk of fracture increases both because of thinning of bones and also due to increase in vulnerability to stagger because of age. This increased propensity to falls could be because of age. This increased propensity to falls could be because of diminished postural control, gait changes, muscular weakness, decreased reflexes, poor vision, postural fall in blood pressure, confusion, dementia or cumulative effect of man such factors. Falls can also be due to specific diseases such as Parkinson’s (see glossary) hemiplegia, (paralysis of one-half of body) arthritis which leads to gait disorders, or due to intake of sedatives.
Despite the fact that falls are frequent, only 5 per cent of cases of fall end up with fractures.

Osteoporotic Fracture


Figure 4 An osteoporotic fracture – showing thinned out bone