Orthopaedic Degenerative Conditions

Question 1

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 1

A silent disease that often remains asymptomatic and undetected until bone fracture occurs.

Characterised by lower than normal bone mass for a given age and gender.

Question 2

Bone characteristics in osteoporosis

Answer 2

Bone cortex is thinner and trabeculae are more sparse than in normal bone

Question 3

Bone mass changes with age

Answer 3

Bone mass increases rapidly through childhood into the early 20s where it then plateaus and starts to drop off

Note: possible to have age-related decreases in bone mass without having osteoporosis

Question 4

Risk factors of fractures due to osteoporosis

Answer 4

• do little or no physical activity
• are a smoker
• have a high alcohol intake
• have a low body weight
• have low calcium intake
• frequently fall

Other risk factors which cannot be changed

• family history, gender, race, build
• delayed puberty/early menopause
• anorexia which cause loss of periods
• already had a fracture caused by osteoporosis
• over 60
• rheumatoid arthritis, chronic liver disease or kidney failure
• a history of over active thyroid/parathyroid glands
• male with low levels of testosterone
• long term drug treatment with corticosteroids

Question 5

Goal of osteoporosis treatments

Answer 5

Decrease risk of fractures by minimising bone loss and increasing bone mass

Question 6

Optimal model for prevention of osteoporotic fractures

Answer 6

• maximization / maintenance of bone strength

- minimization of trauma

Question 7

Physical activity is a determinant of…

Answer 7

Peak BMD

During growth it increases skeletal strength and during adult years it decreases age related bone loss