Secondary osteoporosis

Secondary osteoporosis is diagnosed when there is a well-established disease-related risk factor for fracture or low bone mass. Secondary osteoporosis is associated with a substantial minority of osteoporotic fractures in women perhaps with a majority of osteoporotic related fractures in men. This chapter does not review all the possible causes of low bone mass and fractures but picks out some of the more important causes of, with an emphasis on the main iatrogenic cause, that is corticosteroid induced osteoporosis. It also highlights some of the possible causes which could be avoidable. Where appropriate the methods of prevention and treatment of secondary osteoporosis are reviewed.