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Fragility Fractures
a bone. Even then, the break is frequently
blamed on weather or age.
Fragility Fractures are those fractures that
occur with injuries that you would not think
should break a bone. Examples include
falling off the bed or wheelchair, slipping
on ice, and several other low impact
injuries. Classic examples include hip, back
fracture and wrist (distal radius) fractures.
Awareness is Key
Fragility fractures are a result of weak
bones. The most common cause of weak
bones is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is very
common. About 52 million Americans
have or are at risk of osteoporosis. Of
those, two million break a bone each year.
This number is expected to double by 2040.
Approximately one in two women and one
in four men aged 50 years or older break a
bone due to osteoporosis. While a wrist
fracture may not have the most severe
impact on life style, a back fracture, or
worse, a patient with a hip fracture, may
end up in a nursing home for life. There is
also 25% increased risk of death following
a hip fracture.
One fracture may be a sign that another one
is on its way. If you have a broken wrist,
and suspect it is a fragility fracture, this is
the perfect time to prevent a future,
possibly much more serious, one.
Prevention of fragility fractures
Osteoporosis is a silent disease, and a lot of
patients don't know about it until they break
I invite you to ask the following questions:



Was the injury bad enough or could it
be that your bone is weak enough to
break with a low impact injury?
Do you think it is worth it to prevent a
more serious injury?
Would you like to get help to prevent
similar injuries?
There are a lot of simple things that can be
done to prevent fragility fractures.
1. Start with your home. Optimize your
home for fall-prevention by removing
obstacles, such as books on the ground,
wires, or toys. Install safety rails in the
bathroom and use nightlight.
2. Optimize your vision and obtain regular
eye checkups. Bad vision makes it
easier to trip. Use your glasses as
prescribed and make sure they are
doing their job. Make sure there is
enough light indoors.
3. Be aware of the environment. Do you
expect ice outside home? Is it going to
be slippery on the porch? Do you live
on steep hill? Be careful when the
weather is bad and when it is getting
dark.
4. Take a fall prevention class. Join an
exercise class that focuses on balance
such as Tai Chi.
5. Review your medications with your
regular doctor to ensure they are not
making you drowsy or decrease focus
or balance.
6. Optimize your Diet. Needless to say,
Calcium, Vitamin D, and protein are
very important for your bone health. A
healthy diet, supported by doctor
recommended
supplements
when
needed can go a long way.*
Testing and Treatment
Patients who test positive for osteoporosis
benefit from osteoporosis medications. The
key point is to be tested. Women should
have a bone mineral density test
performed at the time of menopause and
regularly afterwards. Elderly men and
women, especially with a prior fragility
fracture should be tested as well.
Osteoporosis medicine can decrease risk
of fragility fractures by half. Unfortunately,
only 1 in 5 patients actually receive proper
treatment and prevention measures.
For more information about fragility
fractures, please visit UpperExt.com
*Recommended daily doses are 800-1,000
units of vitamin D per day and 1,000-1,500
mg of calcium per day.