Osteoporosis

Abstract

Introduction Osteoporosis is a complex disease whose aetiopathogenic mechanisms lead to a structural disorder or low bone mass as a result of changes in bone remodelling that increase bone fragilty. These changes can be caused by endocrine, metabolic and immunologic disorders, among others. Clinical manifestations Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease, whose only clinical manifestation is its complication: osteoporotic fracture, the only cause of its morbidity and mortality. The most common fractures, occurring in the vertebrae, can go unnoticed. Hip and Colles’ fractures are almost always the result of a fall. In the absence of a fracture, clinical suspicion will be reached by assessing the risk factors. Diagnosis The diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on the densitometric criteria of the World Health Organisation, which are based on the bone mineral density in the lumbar spine or proximal femur using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Once the diagnosis has been made, osteoporosis should be ruled out as secondary. Treatment New therapeutic strategies offer improved treatment of the disease.