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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffFractures are the most frequent and serious complication of osteoporosis. They often occur in your spine or hip — bones that directly support your weight. Hip fractures often result from a fall. Although most people do relatively well with modern surgical treatment, hip fractures can result in disability and even death from postoperative complications, especially in older adults. Wrist fractures from falls also are common.
In some cases, spinal fractures can occur even if you haven't fallen or injured yourself. The bones in your back (vertebrae) can simply become so weakened that they begin to compress or collapse. Compression fractures can cause severe pain and require a long recovery. If you have many such fractures, you can lose height as your posture becomes stooped.
- Osteoporosis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00232. Accessed Oct. 26, 2009.
- 2. Osteoporosis overview. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/overview.pdf. Accessed Oct. 26, 2009.
- Invest in your bones: Beat the break. International Osteoporosis Foundation. http://www.iofbonehealth.org/download/osteofound/filemanager/publications/pdf/beat-the-break-english.pdf. Accessed Oct. 26, 2009.
- BMD testing: What the numbers mean. National Osteoporosis Foundation. http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/bmdtest.htm. Accessed Oct. 26, 2009.
- Osteoporosis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec04/ch036/ch036a.html. Accessed Oct. 13, 2009.
- Raisz LG. Pathogenesis of osteoporosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2009.
- Diem SJ, et al. Use of antidepressants and rates of hip bone loss in older women: The study of osteoporotic fractures. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007;167:1240.
- Haney EM, et al. Association of low bone mineral density with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use by older men. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2007;167:1246.
- Rosen HN, et al. Overview of the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2009.
- Finkelstein JS. Treatment of osteoporosis in men. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2009.
- Dietary reference intakes for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride. Institute of Medicine. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=5776. Accessed Oct. 26, 2009.
