DGOU releases new guidelines for osteoporotic vertebral fractures

The German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DGOU), in collaboration with the German Spine Society (DWG) and 17 other organizations, has released a new S2k clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures.

Approximately 400,000 spinal fractures are diagnosed annually in Europe, with more than half of patients over the age of 80 affected. These fractures, often caused by bone weakness from osteoporosis, frequently go undetected as they are often mistaken for non-specific back pain.

The new guidelines provide a structured algorithm to help clinicians decide between conservative treatments—such as pain management, physiotherapy, and medication—and surgical interventions, including minimally invasive procedures for unstable fractures. The goal is to improve diagnostic accuracy and maintain the mobility and independence of elderly patients. The topic will be further discussed at the German Congress for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery (DKOU) in Berlin in October 2026.