[Compression vertebral fracture in osteoporosis--prevention and treatment].

Vertebral fractures are the earliest and most common osteoporotic fractures. Usually vertebral fractures are associated with following clinical symptoms: back pain, posture change, loss of height, functional impairment, disability and decreasing quality of life. After 3 years of treatment raloxifene reduced the risk of first vertebral fracture by 55%. The fracture risk within one year was reduced by as much as 68%. The continued observation proved its sustained efficacy in further reduction of the fracture risk by 50% in the fourth year.