Osteopenia—defined by a bone mineral density T-score between −1.0 and −2.5—is more common than osteoporosis and accounts for most fragility fractures in postmenopausal women. Approximately 50% of Korean women aged ≥ 50 years have osteopenia. Despite this high prevalence, optimal therapeutic strategies remain unclear. This review summarizes the clinical significance and management of osteopenia. Clinical practice often categorizes osteopenia into mild, moderate, and severe based on specific T-score ranges. Studies indicate that women transitioning from normal or moderate osteopenia to lower bone density experience more fractures. One study reported that approximately 10% of women with normal BMD or osteopenia progressed to osteoporosis, mostly from moderate to severe osteopenia groups. Fracture risks, particularly for hip and vertebral fractures, are elevated mainly in moderate to severe osteopenia.The National Osteoporosis Foundation and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists incorporate FRAX® scores alongside T-scores and clinical history to guide pharmacological intervention. Accordingly, South Korean guidelines classify fracture-risk groups as low, moderate, high, or very high, allowing treatment of patients with osteopenia in the high-risk categories. Evidence supporting medications for fracture prevention remains limited. However, growing interest in preventing fractures has directed the ongoing studies to evaluate various drugs. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments include menopausal hormone therapy, bisphosphonates, and selective estrogen receptor modulators. To reduce fractures in postmenopausal women, treatment should not be restricted to osteoporosis alone. Women with moderate to severe osteopenia may also benefit from medications used for osteoporosis. Clinicians should assess individual fracture risks and select preventive treatments based on risk level, fracture site, menopausal symptoms, patient preference, and cost-effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy in multiple myomas over 10. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for 662 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy and open myomectomy by a single operator in a tertiary university hospital. RESULTS: A total of 30 women underwent removal of 10 or more uterine myomas by robotics and 13 patients were selected for this study. The average number of myomas removed was 13.7 (range 10–20). The maximum diameter of the myomas was 6.8 cm (range 5.0–10.0 cm). The sum of the diameters of each myoma was 34.7 cm (range 20.0–54.5 cm) and the mass of resected myomas for each case was 229.1 g (range 106.8–437.9 g). In no case was the robotic procedure converted into conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy, and all patients recovered without any major complications. In comparison with 13 cases of open myomectomy during the same period, robotic surgery took longer time than open surgery (360.5 vs. 183.8 minutes; P=0.001) but had shorter postoperative hospital days after surgery (mean 2.5 vs. 3.5 days; P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy could be an alternative to laparotomic myomectomy for numerous myomas over 10 in number.
Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Leiomyoma ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Myoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Robotics ; Uterine Myomectomy