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Review
. 2017 Jun;10(2):265-274.
doi: 10.1007/s12178-017-9410-y.

Osteoporosis: a discussion on the past 5 years

Affiliations
Review

Osteoporosis: a discussion on the past 5 years

Kyle M Schweser et al. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: The purposes of this study are to examine the literature within the past 5 years regarding osteoporosis and offer a discussion on new topics and controversies.

Recent findings: Patient compliance with therapy remains an issue. The effectiveness of Vitamin D and calcium are being called into question Atypical femur fractures have been associated with bisphosphonate and denosumab use. Treatment is both surgical and pharmaceutical. A multidisciplinary approach to osteoporotic fractures is important and having some form of fracture liaison service (FLS) improves the efficacy of osteoporotic care and decreases secondary fractures. Screening for osteoporosis remains low. Ultrasound may be cost-effective for diagnosis. Understanding of osteoporosis has come a long way in the medical community, but the translation to the lay community has lagged behind. Patients often take a laissez-faire attitude toward osteoporosis that can affect compliance. Information read by patients often focuses on complications, such as atypical femur fractures and myocardial infarctions. It is essential for providers to be able to discuss these issues with patients. Newer medications and more cost-effective diagnostic tests exist, but availability may be limited. FLS are effective, but the most cost-effective model for therapy still eludes us. Areas for further investigation include FLS models, the effectiveness of vitamin supplementation, and more ubiquitous and cost-effective diagnostic tools.

Keywords: Osteoporosis controversies; Osteoporosis management; Osteoporosis review; Osteoporosis treatment; Vitamin D and calcium supplementation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

Brett D. Crist reports other from Arthrex, personal fees from Globus, other from Orthopaedic Implant Company, other from Amedica, personal fees from Acelity/KCI, personal fees from Johnson/Johnson DePuy, outside the submitted work.

Kyle M Schweser declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Human and animal rights and informed consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a, b Preoperative images of a patient on chronic antiresorptive therapy presenting to an outside facility with an AFF. Notice the atypical fracture pattern and contralateral beaking (arrow). c Images after fracture fixation with cephalomedullary device of the right femur only. Pt eventually presented with a nonunion of the right femur and left hip pain d, e After revision open reduction and internal fixation of the right femur, the left side underwent a prophylactic cephalomedullary nailing

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