BACKGROUND: To investigate the current practice of Orthopaedic Surgeons & General Practitioners (GP) when presented with patients who have a fracture, with possible underlying Osteoporosis. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 140 GPs and 140 Orthopaedic Surgeons. The participants were asked their routine clinical practice with regard to investigation of underlying osteoporosis in 3 clinical scenarios. 55 year old lady with a low trauma Colles fracture. 60 year old lady with a vertebral wedge fracture. 70 year old lady with a low trauma neck of femur fracture. RESULTS: Most doctors agreed that patients over 50 years old with low trauma fractures required investigation for osteoporosis, however, most surgeons (56%, n = 66) would discharge patients with low trauma Colles fracture without requesting or initiating investigation for osteoporosis. Most GPs (67%, n = 76) would not investigate a similar patient for osteoporosis, unless prompted by the Orthopaedic Surgeon or patient. More surgeons (71%, n= 83) and GPs (64%, n = 72) would initiate investigations for osteoporosis in a vertebral wedge fracture, but few surgeons (35%, n = 23) would investigate a neck of femur fracture patient after orthopaedic treatment. CONCLUSION: Most doctors know that fragility fractures in patients over 50 years old require investigation for Osteoporosis; however, a large population of patients with osteoporotic fractures are not being given the advantages of secondary prevention.
BACKGROUND: To investigate the current practice of Orthopaedic Surgeons & General Practitioners (GP) when presented with patients who have a fracture, with possible underlying Osteoporosis. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to 140 GPs and 140 Orthopaedic Surgeons. The participants were asked their routine clinical practice with regard to investigation of underlying osteoporosis in 3 clinical scenarios. 55 year old lady with a low trauma Colles fracture. 60 year old lady with a vertebral wedge fracture. 70 year old lady with a low trauma neck of femur fracture. RESULTS: Most doctors agreed that patients over 50 years old with low trauma fractures required investigation for osteoporosis, however, most surgeons (56%, n = 66) would discharge patients with low trauma Colles fracture without requesting or initiating investigation for osteoporosis. Most GPs (67%, n = 76) would not investigate a similar patient for osteoporosis, unless prompted by the Orthopaedic Surgeon or patient. More surgeons (71%, n= 83) and GPs (64%, n = 72) would initiate investigations for osteoporosis in a vertebral wedge fracture, but few surgeons (35%, n = 23) would investigate a neck of femur fracturepatient after orthopaedic treatment. CONCLUSION: Most doctors know that fragility fractures in patients over 50 years old require investigation for Osteoporosis; however, a large population of patients with osteoporotic fractures are not being given the advantages of secondary prevention.
Authors: H A Pols; D Felsenberg; D A Hanley; J Stepán; M Muñoz-Torres; T J Wilkin; G Qin-sheng; A M Galich; K Vandormael; A J Yates; B Stych Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 1999 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: M R McClung; P Geusens; P D Miller; H Zippel; W G Bensen; C Roux; S Adami; I Fogelman; T Diamond; R Eastell; P J Meunier; J Y Reginster Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2001-02-01 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Sumit R Majumdar; Brian H Rowe; Deb Folk; Jeffrey A Johnson; Brian H Holroyd; Donald W Morrish; Walter P Maksymowych; Ivan P Steiner; Charles H Harley; Brian J Wirzba; David A Hanley; Sandra Blitz; Anthony S Russell Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2004-09-07 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Francisco Javier Amarilla-Donoso; Raul Roncero-Martin; Jesus Maria Lavado-Garcia; Rosaura Toribio-Felipe; Jose Maria Moran-Garcia; Fidel Lopez-Espuela Journal: PeerJ Date: 2020-06-16 Impact factor: 2.984
Authors: K Akesson; D Marsh; P J Mitchell; A R McLellan; J Stenmark; D D Pierroz; C Kyer; C Cooper Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2013-04-16 Impact factor: 4.507