Osteoporosis refers to a decrease in bone mass and quality, which tends to occur with age and is related to genetics and gender, being more common in women than men. Osteoporosis can put you at risk for sustaining fracture of your vertebrae (as well as other bones like the wrist and hip). Treatment for osteoporosis is nonoperative and involves medical management in concert with a medical doctor. Treatment for fractured vertebrae can be either nonoperative or operative depending on the duration and severity of symptoms.