ORTHOPEDIC OSTEOPOROSIS

ORTHOPEDIC OSTEOPOROSIS

One of the most common scenario in the elderly age group causing severe morbidity. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the structure and strength of bone changes, making the bone thin and brittle, This leads to increased risk of fractures.
Osteoporosis is a “silent” disease because patient typically does not have symptoms, and they may not even know that they have the disease until there is a fracture.
Osteoporosis is the major cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and in older men. Fractures can occur in any bone but happen most often in bones of the hip, vertebrae in the spine, and wrist.
Prevention can be done by staying physically active
Quitting smoking and alcohol
Eating nutritious diet
Though osteoporosis is a silent disease it can leave a few signs like,

• Losing an inch or more of your height.
• Changes in your natural posture (stooping or bending forward more).
Changes in your natural posture (stooping or bending forward more).
• Shortness of breath (if disks in your spine are compressed enough to reduce your lung capacity).
• Lower back pain (pain in your lumbar spine).

Risk factors:
Post-menopausal females
Unhealthy lifestyle
Hormonal diseases like thyroid, Diabetes
Autoimmune diseases like Rheumatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
Malabsorption syndromes
People on diuretics.
Diagnosis: Diagnosis is by performing a DEXA scan or bone density test. Checking for changes in your bone density is the best way to catch osteoporosis before it causes a bone fracture.
Treatment:
Exercises that make body work against gravity like walking, yoga, Pilates and tai chi can improve bone strength and body balance without putting too much stress on bones.
Calcium and Vit D3 supplements
Hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal females
Parathyroid hormone and bisphosphonates
And most importantly prevention of accidental falls and injuries by taking proper precautions while doing daily activities.

Dr. Raghava Aditya K.
MBBS, MS(Orthopedics) FIJR Germany
ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON, JOINT REPLACEMENT, ARTHROSCOPY SURGEON.
Hyderabad