Osteoporosis weakens bone to the point where a fall from standing height or sometimes no fall at all can cause a fracture. Hip, wrist and spinal fractures are the most common results, and a hip fracture in an older adult is a serious event that affects independence.
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria treats fragility fractures at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai. Fixing the fracture is only half the task; the other half is reducing the chance of the next one.
Bone is living tissue, continually being broken down and rebuilt. In osteoporosis, breakdown outpaces rebuilding, so bone becomes less dense and its internal structure thins. The bone looks normal from outside but fractures under loads it should tolerate.
A fragility fracture is one occurring from a fall at standing height or less — a level of force that would not normally break bone. The most common sites are the hip, the wrist and the spine.
Osteoporosis itself causes no symptoms until a fracture occurs, which is why it is often described as silent. A first fragility fracture significantly increases the risk of a second, so it should be treated as a warning rather than an isolated accident.
bone density declines with age in everyone.
bone loss accelerates after menopause, though osteoporosis also affects men.
a significant and well-recognised risk factor.
including inadequate calcium and vitamin D.
widespread in India despite abundant sunlight, and an important contributor.
particularly of hip fracture in a parent.
weight-bearing activity helps maintain bone density.
including thyroid disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and conditions affecting nutrient absorption.
Seek urgent care for inability to bear weight after a fall, a leg that appears shortened or rotated, severe pain after a fall in an older adult, sudden severe back pain, or any back pain accompanied by leg weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
X-rays of the affected site. CT or MRI where the fracture is not clearly visible, which is not uncommon in hip and spinal fractures in fragile bone.
DEXA scan — measures bone density and is the standard test
Blood tests — including vitamin D, calcium and thyroid function
Fracture risk assessment — combining density and clinical risk factors
Spinal imaging — where compression fractures are suspected
Reviewing balance, vision, medication, footwear and home hazards, since preventing the fall prevents the fracture.
Most patients are managed without surgery. Treatment is adjusted to the stage of the condition and the level of pain and stiffness:
Surgery may be considered when significant stiffness persists despite appropriate non-surgical treatment for several months and continues to interfere with work, sleep or everyday activities.
Medical management of osteoporosis is often shared with a physician or endocrinologist.
Hip fracture and complex trauma
Pelvic and acetabular fracture
Post-traumatic arthritis
Over two decades of orthopaedic surgical
experience
Internationally fellowship-trained in the USA,
Germany and Australia
Surgery recommended only when it is
genuinely the better option
Among India's earliest robotic joint
replacement surgeons
150+ peer-reviewed publications and multiple
device patents
Structured rehabilitation planned before the
operation, not after
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria is Director and Head of the Department of Orthopaedics at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, and one of the earliest surgeons in India to adopt robotic joint replacement. Over twenty-two years of practice he has treated patients across the full range of bone and joint conditions, with a particular focus on robotic knee and hip replacement, partial knee replacement, sports injury and arthroscopy, and complex pelvic and acetabular reconstruction.
Name
Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria
Experience
20+ Years
Qualifications
MS (Ortho) FASSI, FNUS, FNAMS..
Speciality
Practice
Schedule your consultation with Dr. Vaibhav Bagaria today
Dr Vaibhav Bagaria
Prarthana Samaj, Khetwadi, Girgaon,
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004
02261305757
