Incidental Vertebral Fractures Discovered With Chest Radiography in the Emergency Department

Abstract
Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive condition that leads to decreased bone mass and skeletal fragility.1-3 In turn, this leads to fracture, disability, deformity, and even death.1-4 At least 1 million Canadian and 10 million US residents are afflicted.1-3 The annual cost of treating osteoporosis and its sequelae is $13.8 billion a year in the United States, compared with $7.5 billion for heart failure and $6.2 billion for asthma.3 The most common fracture associated with osteoporosis is the vertebral compression fracture.4-10