The population of elderly people (over 65 years of age) is constantly growing in the majority of western societies. This is due to the advances in medicine and the increasing awareness of healthier lifestyles during the last several decades. It is predicted that by the year 2030 there will be 70.2 million people aged 65 or older. Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. The leading causes of osteoporosis are a drop in estrogen in women at the time of menopause, and a drop in testosterone in men. Women aged over 50 and men aged over 70 have a higher risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporotic fractures are one of the most common causes of disabilities, and are a very costly bureden on the budgets of health care systems in many regions of the world. The fractures are caused especially following low-energy trauma (injury from a small force, e.g. after falling from a height). The most common osteoporotic fractures are: vertebral fractures, fractures of the forearm, proximal end of the femur fractures, and the proximal end of the humerus. Research on the basis of domestic and foreign literature and the results of their observations are presented, and the principles of epidemiology for the identification and treatment of osteoporotic fractures. Consciousness of serious risks related with osteoporotic fractures should lead to implementation and propagating more active preventive activity for patients of old age. According to the WHO, IOF and EFORT, a doctor admitting a patient with an osteoporotic fracture should not only treat the fracture itself, but also implement preventive procedures.