Gestione ortopedica delle fratture da fragilità ossea : attualità e prospettive

Fragility fractures, and in particular those of the femoral neck, vertebrae, wrist and proximal humerus, are increasing, with a socio-economic impact strong enough to suggest modifications in their current management. These fractures are characterized by their time of event, clinical approach and functional results, which are also influenced by co-morbidity of the patient. However, in Italy, it was recently shown that patients hospitalized for hip fracture, as well as having an average age over 75, are averagely in their fourth fracturative episode. The high mortality rate usually associated to this type of fracture is significantly decreased when an anti-osteoporosis therapy is initiated. Given the increase of the elderly population in the coming years, and especially the octogenarians, it is necessary to implement a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach suitable to the recovery of a quality of life of the same level to the period preceding the fragility fracture. Therefore, during the first fragility fracture, the orthopedist is essential to implement an adjuvant drug therapy that promotes healing and begins to improve bone quality, with the aim of reducing the risk of further fractures