A fracture--intervention program optimizes the management of osteoporosis

Despite the high morbidity and mortality rate of osteoporosis, the proportion of patients who receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment remains very low. A specific osteoporosis program increased the percentage of patients receiving diagnosis and/or treatment for osteoporosis. We set up a program to improve diagnosis and treatment of patients with low-trauma fractures or suspicion of osteoporosis. Two geriatricians were especially designated for this program. The program included patients admitted to the emergency room, inpatients and outpatients from the orthopedic department or the internal medicine/geriatric department. The assessment was performed over two visits and included an evaluation of risk factors for osteoporosis and falls, a physical examination, a collection of biological parameters, and Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. In the second visit the physician prescribed, if appropriate, anti-osteoporotic treatment. During a two-year period, 156 patients were included in the program; 85.4 % were women. Hip fracture was the most common fracture, followed by vertebral and arm (respectively 28.6%, 11.5%, and 7.6%). While half the patients had a personal history of low-trauma fractures, only 17% received osteoporosis treatment. Anti-osteoporotic treatments were prescribed for 49% of the patients (p