The main consequences of osteoporosis are that it is a condition in which bone mass is depleted and bone structure is destroyed to the degree that bone becomes fragile and prone to fractures. For affected patients, these ‘fragility fractures’ are associated with substantial pain and suffering, disability and even death, along with substantial costs to society. The problems created by fragility fractures and osteoporosis are multifactorial in origin and are, therefore, a multidisciplinary problem. A first fragility fracture is often the first sign of osteoporosis, and ‘secondary’ prevention of fragility fractures is focused on the prevention of further fractures once an initial fracture has occurred. Nurses play a key role in education and guidance of patients with osteoporosis. This chapter will provide an overview of how osteoporosis and fragility fractures are linked, with a focus on fracture prevention.
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