TY - JOUR
T1 - The patient with a fragility fracture
T2 - An evolving role for the orthopaedic surgeon
AU - Schnitzer, T. J.
AU - Wehren, Lois E.
PY - 2004/2
Y1 - 2004/2
N2 - Osteoporosis can now be diagnosed readily, and treatments that increase bone mineral density and decrease fracture risk, even after fragility fracture has occurred, are now available. Clinical guidelines for management of osteoporosis unanimously recognize that fracture risk is highest among those who have already sustained a fracture, and encourage prompt evaluation and treatment of these individuals. Despite these guidelines, most women who experience fragility fractures remain untreated (for osteoporosis) by any of the physicians involved in their care. Barriers to diagnosis and treatment have been identified, including uncertainty about the responsibility for such management. The orthopaedic surgeon has a unique opportunity to initiate definitive osteoporosis evaluation and treatment in patients who present with fractures, and recent guidelines support the evolution of the role of the orthopaedist in this direction.
AB - Osteoporosis can now be diagnosed readily, and treatments that increase bone mineral density and decrease fracture risk, even after fragility fracture has occurred, are now available. Clinical guidelines for management of osteoporosis unanimously recognize that fracture risk is highest among those who have already sustained a fracture, and encourage prompt evaluation and treatment of these individuals. Despite these guidelines, most women who experience fragility fractures remain untreated (for osteoporosis) by any of the physicians involved in their care. Barriers to diagnosis and treatment have been identified, including uncertainty about the responsibility for such management. The orthopaedic surgeon has a unique opportunity to initiate definitive osteoporosis evaluation and treatment in patients who present with fractures, and recent guidelines support the evolution of the role of the orthopaedist in this direction.
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U2 - 10.1093/qjmed/hch019
DO - 10.1093/qjmed/hch019
M3 - Article
C2 - 14747625
AN - SCOPUS:1242342051
SN - 1460-2725
VL - 97
SP - 101
EP - 104
JO - QJM: An International Journal of Medicine
JF - QJM: An International Journal of Medicine
IS - 2
ER -