Important: This page provides general information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have concerns about your bone health, please speak to your GP.
Types of Fragility Fractures
A fragility fracture is a broken bone that results from a force that would not normally break a healthy bone — such as a fall from standing height, a minor bump, or in some cases, no obvious impact at all. Fragility fractures can occur at many sites in the body, but four are particularly common in people with osteoporosis.
Important: In Ireland, an estimated 20,000 osteoporotic fractures occur each year. A first fracture significantly increases the risk of a second — research shows that someone who has had one vertebral fracture has a five-fold increased risk of another within the next year. Every fragility fracture should trigger an assessment of bone density and fracture risk.
Hip Fractures
The most serious type of fragility fracture. Hip fractures almost always require surgery and carry significant risks of complications, loss of independence, and mortality. In Ireland, approximately 3,600 hip fractures occur each year. Men have a higher one-year mortality rate after hip fracture than women.
Vertebral (Spinal) Fractures
The most common type of osteoporotic fracture overall, but frequently undiagnosed because they may be misattributed to general back pain. They can cause persistent pain, loss of height, and a stooped posture (kyphosis). Some vertebral fractures occur without any significant trauma.
Wrist (Distal Radius) Fractures
Often the first fragility fracture to occur, typically when someone falls and puts their hand out to break the fall. A wrist fracture in a person over 50 should always prompt a bone density assessment — it is a warning sign that should not be ignored.
Shoulder (Proximal Humerus) Fractures
Fractures of the upper arm bone near the shoulder joint. Less common than hip, spine, or wrist fractures, but still associated with osteoporosis in older adults. Treatment may be conservative (sling) or surgical depending on the severity and displacement of the fracture.
The Fracture Cascade
One of the most important things to understand about fragility fractures is the concept of the fracture cascade. A first fracture dramatically increases the risk of a subsequent fracture:
- A vertebral fracture increases the risk of a second vertebral fracture by approximately 5 times in the following year
- A wrist fracture approximately doubles the risk of a subsequent hip fracture
- Any major fragility fracture approximately doubles the risk of another fracture overall
This is why every fragility fracture must be taken seriously as a medical event — not just treated and forgotten, but used as a clear signal to assess bone density and begin or intensify bone-protective treatment. See our Secondary Fracture Prevention page for more on what should happen after a fracture.
Talk to Your GP
If you have had any fracture from a low-energy impact, please discuss this with your GP — it should prompt an assessment of your bone density regardless of your age.
You can say: “I'd like to discuss my bone health and whether I should have a DXA scan.”
Questions to Ask Your DoctorLast reviewed: February 2026 — FragilityFracture.ie Editorial Team