An 85-year-old woman was brought to an accident and emergency department with breathing difficulties accompanied by inspiratory stridor. She was being treated for hypertension and severe osteoporosis which had caused thoracal and cervical fractures of the columna. Intubation was initiated as she desaturated and deteriorated despite maximum oxygen therapy. The intubation revealed a subglottic stenosis as a consequence of a recent osteoporotic fracture in the cervical columna. This represents a rare cause of respiratory failure as all other cardial, pulmonary and allergic aetiologies had been eliminated.