Osteoporosis is a disorder of low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration in bone, resulting in increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures even after minimal or inadequate trauma [Anonymous, Consensus conference, 1993]. On statistical grounds, more than 50% of postmenopausal women, and approximately 30% of men over the age of 60 years will suffer at least one minimal trauma fracture during their remaining lifetime [Kanis et al. 2000]. However, any osteoporotic fracture predisposes to further fractures, significant morbidity, and premature death. There is a 2-3 fold increase in the risk of repeat fractures after a first minimal trauma fracture. This is true for both men and women in all age categories [Langsetmo et al. 2009]. In the year 2000, there were about 8.9 million fractures worldwide [Johnell et al. 2006], of which 1.6 million were hip fractures. The number of hip fractures is expected to increase worldwide to 6.26 million by 2050 in the context of an ageing population, and longer life expectancy in the developing world [Sambrook P, Cooper C. 2006]. In Australia, the annual number of fractures is projected to increase by 250%, from 83,238 in 1996 to 207,657 fractures in 2051 as a result of the ageing population. Hip fractures are expected to quadruple over the same period of time [Sanders et al. 1999]. There is significant economic burden associated with minimal trauma fractures. In the USA the cost of minimal trauma fractures was estimated at US $17 billion in 2005, with the annual cost predicted to increase by 50% in 2025 [Burge et al. 2007]. In Australia the cost of fragility fractures was AU$ 7.4 billion in 2001 [Sambrook et al. 2002].