PATHOGENESIS OF VERTEBRAL CRUSH FRACTURES IN MEN

In a series of 70 men with vertebral crush fractures, 38 (54%) were fo und to have an underlying secondary cause of osteoporosis such as hypo gonadism (16%), oral steroid therapy (13%), neoplastic disease (9%), e xcess alcohol consumption (6%), gastric surgery (1%) or a combination of these factors (10%). The diagnosis of secondary osteoporosis was no t always apparent from the clinical history and physical examination, suggesting that appropriate investigations should be performed in all men with vertebral crush fractures.