Men face a silent threat of bones and weak fractures

Weak bones can have mortal consequences. Women often receive bone density tests to detect osteoporosis, however, many men do not even realize that they are at risk until they suffer an important fracture.

June is the month of health awareness of men, with an focus on raising awareness about osteoporosis in men.

A new survey in charge of the Wexner Medical Center of the State University of Ohio, among American adults, finds that only 1% of men are concerned about bone density.

This refers to Paul Lewis, MD, interventionist radiologist at the Wexner Medical Center of Ohio State.

“It is a silent disease, and it is silent until it makes some noise, and how it makes noise is with a fracture,” said Lewis, who often treats patients with spinal and pelvic fractures.

The National Spine Health Foundation estimates that 2 million men have osteoporosis, while another 16 million men have a low bone mass known as osteopenia.

Ohio’s state survey found that cancer (32%) is the number one concern when it comes to the health of men, followed closely due to heart disease (30%). Other main concerns include obesity (18%) and sexual health (8%).

With so many other pressing medical concerns, men are often surprised to know that they have osteoporosis. The disease, which means porous bones, causes a gradual loss of bone density and resistance, which puts individuals with the greatest risk of broken bones, even minor falls.

A fracture for an older adult can be deadly, so prevention is key, Lewis said.

“If you do not participate in resistance training as soon as 30 years and 40, you can start losing up to 3% of its bone mass per year,” said Lewis, who is also an associated professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Ohio State University.

It is possible to build bone density with exercise, nutrition and not smoking or drinking excess alcohol.

If we maintain more active lifestyles for a longer time in life, we anticipate less bone loss. “

Paul Lewis, MD, Interventional Radioologist, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center

In addition, once someone develops spinal fractures due to osteoporosis, interventionist radiologists can treat them with kipoplasty or vertebroplasty procedures.

During the kipoplasty, a small balloon is inserted into the fractured vertebra and inflates to create a cavity. Bone cement (a synthetic material made of polymetile metacrylate) is injected into the cavity to stabilize the fracture and treat pain.

VERTEBROPLASTIA involves injecting bone cement directly into the fractured vertebra without using a globe, providing immediate stabilization and pain relief.

“Both procedures aim to relieve pain, restore vertebral height and improve column stability, allowing patients to recover function and mobility. They are performed under a guide of sedation and fluoroscopic image of twilight. Patients experience minimum inactivity time and faster recovery compared to open surgery,” Lewis said.

The loss of testosterone hormone also contributes to weak bones, so men must be more aware of osteoporosis as they age. Lewis recommends that men begin this conversation with their doctor at age 30, giving enough time to prevent weak and porous bones.

Lewis explains the consequences of not treating early osteoporosis.

“We are trying more than a simple fracture; we are treating the whole person,” Lewis said. “They will be more active and will be more independent. They will not be so isolated due to this pain and stay at home or stay in a chair.”

Survey methodology

This study was conducted by SSRS on its Omnibus Omnibus Pan -platform. The SSRS Omnibus opinion panel is a national survey, twice a month, based on probability. Data collection was made from May 2 to 5, 2025, between a sample of 1,008 respondents. The survey was conducted through the web (n = 978) and the phone (n = 30) and was administered in English. The margin of error for the total respondents is +/- 3.6 percentage points at 95%confidence. All SSRS opinion panel data are weighted to represent the target population of American adults 18 years or more.