Imminent fracture risk

• Published in: Osteoporosis international Vol. 28; no. 6; pp. 1765 - 1769
• Main Authors: Roux, C., Briot, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01.06.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Age Factors; Bone Density; Central nervous system; Corticosteroids; Drug delivery; Endocrinology; Fractures; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Orthopedics; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - complications; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; Osteoporotic Fractures - etiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - physiopathology; Osteoporotic Fractures - prevention & control; Recurrence; Review; Rheumatology; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Factors; Vertebrae; Osteoporosis; Fracture; Treatment; Imminent
• ISSN: 0937-941X; 1433-2965; 1433-2965
• DOI: 10.1007/s00198-017-3976-5

The clinical significance of osteoporosis is in the occurrence of fractures and re-fractures. The main risk factor of sustaining a fracture is a previous one, but a recent fracture is a better fracture risk factor than fracture history. The role of the recency of fracture has been shown for both vertebral and non-vertebral fracture risk. This imminent risk is explained by both bone-related factors (underlying osteoporosis) and fall-related factors (including those related to postfracture care). Such a short-term increased risk has been shown also in patients initiating corticosteroids and in frail osteoporotic subjects with central nervous system (CNS) diseases or drugs targeting CNS, and thus a high risk of falls. Patients with an imminent (i.e. 2 years) risk of fracture or refracture should be identified in priority in order to receive an immediate treatment and a program of fall prevention.