Osteoporosis: pathogenesis, new therapies and surgical implications.

Many developments occurred in the realm of bone healing in recent years. Genetic discoveries, new proteins affecting bone health, and new treatments have steered our treatment of traumatic and iatrogenic fractures in new directions. Osteoporosis strikes many subsets of the world population, including: women, the elderly, and those suffering from arthritis, autoimmune diseases, HIV, and the immunocompromised. This disease predisposes people to an increased risk of low trauma and fragility fractures. The baby boomer generation and an increasing lifespan may burden the economy by creating such a large group susceptible to such a potentially devastating disease. The novel treatments and coping with the potentially challenging surgical implications will aide the podiatric physician in both medical and surgical management of osteoporosis.