Sometimes a wrist fracture is more than it seems – it can be the first warning sign that you have osteoporosis. It is important to recognise that it is not normal to break a bone after a fall from standing height. A fracture in one of these three places can affect your independence differently. Let’s look at what these fractures might mean for you.
FRACTURE TYPE | HOW IT CAN IMPACT YOU |
Wrist fracture |
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Spine fracture |
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Hip fracture |
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A broken bone or consistent back pain can mean more than you think, and should be investigated properly. If you are over the age of 50, and have had a broken bone after a minimal trauma such as a fall from a standing height – remember, it is always a good idea to follow up with your doctor.
References – Do you know the signs?
1 Sambrook P, et al. Lancet 2006;367:2010–18.
2 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Spot the signs of a broken spine. 2018. osteoporosis.foundation/educational-hub/material/brochures.
3 Gonnelli S, et al. Osteoporos Int 2013;24:1151–59.
4 Lems WF. Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66:2–4.
5 Xu W, et al. Bone 2011;48:307–11.
6 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis.Risk.Check. 2019. riskcheck.osteoporosis.foundation.
7 Siminoski K, et al. Osteoporos Int 2005;16:403–10.
8 Cosman F, et al. Osteoporos Int 2014;25:2359–81.
9 International Osteoporosis Foundation. Treatment. osteoporosis.foundation/patients/treatment
10 Guglielmi G, et al. Eur Radiol 2008;18:1484–96.