[Treatment of osteoporosis--the new role of the orthopaedic surgeon].

Fractures which are caused by falling from standing height or less are named "fragility fractures". These fractures may indicate neglected osteoporosis and will occur even more frequently in the future, due to the demographic change. This is why osteoporosis will become a challenge to our healthcare systems. For the orthopaedic surgeon treatment of osteoporosis was limited to fracture fixation in the past. As this approach is very focussed towards the fracture as the major complication of osteoporosis, there is a big potential for improvement. It is important to know that such patients suffering from a first fragility fracture are at high risk for being hit by a second or further fragility fractures. A fracture prevention programme should therefore become a mandatory requirement for these patients in the future. The orthopaedic surgeons will be the key players who should put this approach into effect. As we treat most patients with fragility fractures it is our privilege to identify those patients who will most likely benefit from fracture prevention.