Bone protective therapy in the young patient with fractures and chronic disease: What drug(s) should be given and for how long?

Abstract

Fractures are fortunately rare in younger people even with severe chronic disease but when they occur they need to be carefully evaluated. When considering such a patient there needs to be an assessment of the risk of future fractures and their type, a search for potentially modifiable risk factors and an evaluation of the risks vs. benefits of bone protective therapy. These factors will have to be considered in the context of the underlying chronic disease and the way that this impacts on the patient. In those individuals where bone protective therapy is given a clear plan is needed relating to how long the treatment is used and what type of monitoring is warranted. © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.