[Fractures in osteoporosis as a social, economic and therapeutic problem]

The most serious consequence of osteoporosis are fractures of the bones. The fractures mainly affect: the vertebral bodies, the hip, the distal radius, the proximal humerus and the pelvis. The fractures occur more commonly in women than men and affect the population after 45 years of age. Increasing, in the recent years, frequency of the osteoporotic fractures and high cost of their treatment made from this question the serious public health problem. In the procedure of the orthopaedic treatment of osteoporotic fractures (particularly in the most serious of them--the hip fracture) are used most commonly the operative methods of internal fixation. This procedure gives a possibility to quick mobilisation of the patient and prevents many of complications connected with non-operative treatment and long-term immobilisation.