OSTEOPOROSIS: A HARD LOOK

The commonest and most frequently reported geriatric orthopaedic afflictions are senile and postmenopausal osteoporosis. A beautifully logical concept of the pathology and pathophysiology of osteoporosis has been built up (1-7) and is taught by rote to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. It is the purpose of this paper to suggest that this concept will not stand up under close examination, and that actually we know relatively little about osteoporosis.