Does a Fracture Liaison Service Program Minimize Recurrent Fragility Fractures in the Elderly With Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures?

Abstract

Abstract INTRODUCTION There is a sizable proportion of elderly, both men and women, with fragility fractures, approximately 2 million fractures per year in the United States. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 365 patient presented between January 2012 and December 2017 with vertebral compression fractures. Prepost study design to determine refracture between group A (before Fracture Liaison Service (FLS)) and group B, after calcium, vitamin D, DEXA scans, FRAX scores, and refracture rates were measured. RESULTS Mean age for group A and B were 79.0 and 74.9 yr, respectively, and predominantly females. Serum calcium was higher in group B (9.51 mg/DL) but not significan (P = .19). Fracture score among the groups was similar (20% vs 22%; P = .44). The total refracture rate for both vertebral and other fracture was significantly less in the post FLS patients, 36.5% vs 56% P-value = .01. CONCLUSION FLS program benefited patients with fragility fractures by decreasing the incidence of all refracture rates.