Osteoporosis

A disruption in any part of the vitamin D physiological pathway can result in vitamin D deficiency, which may lead to bone pain, muscle weakness, falls, low bone mass, and fractures.

This young woman sustained a hip fracture while running the Chicago Marathon. The case review suggests that training error was a critical factor. Be alert: Runners may experience stress fractures and ignore the pain.

A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reveals that PPIs for treating acid reflux elevate the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.

The latest version of the Clinician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis, updated by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) earlier this year, represents a major breakthrough in the evaluation and treatment of persons who have low bone mass or osteoporosis, according to the organization. The guide provides evidence-based recommendations to help physicians better identify persons at high risk for osteoporosis and fractures and ensure that they are recommended for treatment. It introduces guidelines that address African American, Asian, Latina, and other postmenopausal women-and men aged 50 years and older-as well as white postmenopausal women.

Meier C, Nguyen TV, Handelsman DJ, et al, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, andother centers. Endogenous sex hormones and incident fracture risk in older men: theDubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:47-54.

Demand for total joint replacement (TJR) surgeries will far outstrip supply in the coming years, significantly diminishing the quality of patient care, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection threatens to become a "21st-century plague,"according to speakers at the recent American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting held in San Francisco.The breakthrough potential of stem cells, tissue engineering, and gene therapy in musculoskeletal medicine was another key area of discussion.

Involving patients in decision making may help improve the quality of care.

A 79-year-old white woman presented with ulcerative colitis of 12 years’ duration and osteoporosis. She was referred to rheumatology for severe proximal muscle pain that was unresponsive to NSAID therapy.