STEROID-THERAPY IN THE ELDERLY AND FRACTURES OF THE PROXIMAL FEMUR

It is widely accepted that chronic steroid therapy is associated with spinal bone loss and vertebral osteoporotic fractures. However, recent evidence suggests that the use of steroids is also associated with an increased incidence of hip fractures. Steroid therapy will mainly aff ect the risk of hip fracture in the elderly through steroid-induced bo ne loss at the proximal femur as well as through steroid myopathy. Suf ficient data do not exist to allow recommendation of any definite prot ocol to prevent corticosteroid-induced bone loss at the proximal femur .