Breaking the fragility fracture cycle

Abstract

Fracture begets fracture. This phenomenon has been wellcharacterised in many prospective studies and summarised by meta-analyses [1, 2]; a prior fracture at least doubles a patient’s future fracture risk. Elevated fracture risk persists for up to 10 years after the initial fracture event [3] and is greatest during the first year after this [4]. Several studies have explored this phenomenon from the obverse view of fracture history in patients presenting to hospital with a hip fracture. In 1980, Gallagher and colleagues reported prior fracture history amongst patients presenting with hip fracture in Rochester, USA for the period 1965–1974 [5]. Sixty-eight percent of women and 59% of men had suffered at least one other fracture besides their hip fracture. More recent studies from the UK [6], USA [7] and Australia [8] have consistently reported that 45% or more of today’s hip fracture patients have a prior fracture history. These epidemiological data reveal a stark truth; almost half of hip fracture patients provide us with an obvious opportunity for preventive intervention. Tragically, numerous studies from across the world have found that healthcare systems are failing to respond to the first fracture to prevent the second [9, 10]. This special issue of Osteoporosis International focuses on post-fracture coordinatorbased models that have been shown to close the secondary prevention management gap. The systematic review conducted by Sale and colleagues [11] considered published models of case-finding systems in the orthopaedic environment. The reviewers sought to evaluate the structure, protocols, staffing and outcomes of different models and categorise them by the key elements present in each program. Sixty-five percent formally described the role of a dedicated coordinator who identified patients, facilitated BMD testing and the initiation of osteoporosis treatment. A clear message is that coordinator-based models circumvent the challenge of where clinical responsibility resides for osteoporosis care of the fragility fracture patient. The Glasgow Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) has provided clinically effective post-fracture osteoporosis care for the one million residents of Glasgow, Scotland for the last decade [12]. McLellan and colleagues’ formal costeffectiveness analysis of the Glasgow FLS [13] provides crucial health economic information in the prevailing austere economic climes. An estimated 18 fractures were prevented, including 11 hip fractures, and £21,000 (€23,350, US$34,700) was saved per 1,000 patients managed by the FLS versus “usual care” for the United Kingdom. To date, approximately one third of the UK’s 61 million residents are served by an FLS. McLellan has Related articles can be found at doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1534-0, doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1544-y, doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1638-6 and doi:10.1007/s00198-011-1642-x.