Definition
What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease of the skeleton in which excessive bone breakdown leads to structural disturbance and excessive porosity of bone. Bones become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These breaks (fractures) typically occur in the hip, spine and wrist.

© 2002-2009 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd
See our Legal Statement