Osteoporosis – An Imminent Ethical and Legal Debacle?

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in bone density. Its prevalence is on the rise and is only going to continue to rise further. Fragility fractures such as neck of femur fracture fractures and intertrochanteric fractures are among the most common fractures encountered by orthopedic surgeons today. Yet, the management of these fragility fractures has unfortunately fallen short of addressing the etiology behind the fracture. Orthopedic surgeons routinely perform arthroplasty or osteosynthesis for stabilization of these fractures, but rarely do they address the coexisting osteoporosis. We explore the factors, leading to this scenario, the practical hurdles faced, the ethical and legal considerations on the matter, and the road ahead. We believe that this is a topic which should be discussed further among orthopedic surgeons to arrive at practical solutions and change in perspectives. The aim of this article was to encourage a debate on the matter, increase awareness about the current situation, and help change the trend in the management of osteoporosis in developing countries like India.