ABSTRACT
Among various fragility fractures that represent the major complication of osteoporosis, vertebral and hip fractures are associated with significant morbidity and excess mortality. Thus, the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis should be aimed at substantially decreasing the risk of fragility fractures, especially at those sites. In the past 10 years, large double blind placebo controlled trials have been performed in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, with incident vertebral and nonvertebral fracture as a primary endpoint. These trials have shown that several agents are able to reduce markedly (by 30-50%) the risk of fractures (Table 5.1). This review will focus on such trials whenever available.
