|Excel Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine 2801 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA 30033 USA A fracture can be more than a just a
broken bone. It may be a warning sign that you have
osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, or "porous bone" is a medical
condition that weakens bone by making it more porous and less
dense. Bone density is one of the factors that determine bone
strength, so individuals with low bone density have a higher
risk for fracture and refracture. Osteoporosis is a contributing
factor in as many as 1.5 million fractures each year, including:
- About 300,000 hip fractures - About 700,000 vertebral (spine)
fractures - About 250,000 wrist fractures - About 300,000
fractures at other sites The risk of a serious fracture can
double after a first fracture in certain high-risk groups.
Additionally, many patients, particularly those who suffer hip
fractures, are at high risk for premature death or loss of
independence after the fracture. Consider these facts: - One out
of four people who have an osteoporotic hip frac