Characteristics and diagnostic workup of the patient at risk to sustain fragility fracture

Abstract

The human body undergoes several physiological adaptations as a result of the aging process. Amongst other organs, the skeleton is also affected and when bone fragility is present, an increase in both morbidity and mortality has been reported. Identification of risk factors to calculate the probability for a given patient to develop a fragility fracture it is therefore of paramount importance. Moreover, the existence of an in house protocol for diagnostic work up using biochemical tests and imaging investigations is essential. In the herein study we discuss a diagnostic protocol that has been developed in our clinic based on knowledge from the literature and our clinical experience.

Keywords: Clinical risk factors; DXA; FRAX; Fragility fractures; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis biomarkers; Primary osteoporosis; Secondary osteoporosis prevention.