Bone disease in older people

Bone disease is a common problem in the elderly, and its clinical manifestation are a major preventable public health problem. The disorders of the skeleton have been classified in a variety of ways, an approach which tends to restrict understanding of the clinical problem in a particular patient. Frequently, several separate disorders coexist, each contributing to impairment of bone form or function, and each requiring a separate intervention. The major categories of disorder are osteoporosis, too little bone within the bone, osteomalacia, impaired mineralization of bone matrix, and infiltration of bone with cancer cells. Each represents a distinct pathological processes that results in abnormal bone structure and function, which may present as bone pain and/or fracture.