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GERICLINICS

Clinical case · Osteoporosis

A broken wrist from a trip on the doorstep

A 72-year-old woman broke her wrist tripping at home. Recognise a fragility fracture, interpret her bone density and blood tests, and start the right treatment.

Beginner 12 minNeeds clinical review

You will learn to

  • Recognise a fragility fracture as a signal for fracture-risk assessment
  • Interpret DXA T-scores and look for secondary causes and contributors
  • Choose first-line treatment and plan its duration, supplements and safety advice

Presentation

Step 1 of 10

A 72-year-old woman is seen in the fracture liaison clinic six weeks after breaking her left wrist (a distal radius fracture). She caught her foot on the doorstep at home and fell forwards onto her outstretched hand.

The fracture was treated in a cast and is healing well. She asks, "Is this just bad luck?"

References

  1. Gregson CL, Armstrong DJ, Bowden J, et al. UK clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Arch Osteoporos. 2022;17(1):58. doi:10.1007/s11657-022-01061-5 · PubMed 35378630

Last updated 2026-10-21.

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