151 Optimising Bone Health on Sheffield Frailty Unit Through Quality Improvement

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i12-i42
Author(s):  
C M Orton ◽  
N E Sinson ◽  
R Blythe ◽  
J Hogan ◽  
N A Vethanayagam ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction NICE and the National Osteoporosis Guidance Group (NOGG) advise on evaluation of fracture risk and osteoporosis treatment1,2, with evidence suggesting that screening and treatment reduces the risk of fragility fractures 3,4,5. However, it is often overlooked in the management of older patients within secondary care. Audit data from Sheffield Frailty Unit (SFU) in 2018 showed that national guidance was not routinely followed. Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) scores were not calculated and bone health was poorly managed. Therefore, we undertook a quality improvement project aiming to optimise bone health in patients presenting to SFU. Method & Intervention In January 2019 we collaborated with Sheffield Metabolic Bone Centre (MBC) to develop a pathway aiming to improve bone health assessment and management in patients presenting to SFU with a fall or fragility fracture. This included a user-friendly flow chart with accompanying guidelines, alongside education for staff. Performance was re-evaluated in May 2019, following which a tick box prompt was added to post take ward round documentation. A re-audit was performed in March 2020. Results In March 2018 0% of patients presenting with a fall had a FRAX® score calculated and only 40% of those with a new fragility fracture were managed according to guidelines. In May 2019, this had improved to 18% and 100% respectively. In March 2020 86% of patients had a FRAX® score calculated appropriately and 100% of fragility fractures were managed according to guidelines. In both re-audits 100% of FRAX® scores were acted on appropriately. Conclusions There has been a significant increase in the number of patients who have their bone health appropriately assessed and managed after presenting to SFU. However, achieving optimum care is under constant review with the aim to deliver more treatment on SFU, thereby reducing the need for repeat visits to the MBC.

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Link

The radiologist has a number of roles not only in diagnosing but also in treating osteoporosis. Radiologists diagnose fragility fractures with all imaging modalities, which includes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrating radiologically occult insufficiency fractures, but also lateral chest radiographs showing asymptomatic vertebral fractures. In particular MRI fragility fractures may have a nonspecific appearance and the radiologists needs to be familiar with the typical locations and findings, to differentiate these fractures from neoplastic lesions. It should be noted that radiologists do not simply need to diagnose fractures related to osteoporosis but also to diagnose those fractures which are complications of osteoporosis related pharmacotherapy. In addition to using standard radiological techniques radiologists also use dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to quantitatively assess bone mineral density for diagnosing osteoporosis or osteopenia as well as to monitor therapy. DXA measurements of the femoral neck are also used to calculate osteoporotic fracture risk based on the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score, which is universally available. Some of the new technologies such as high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HR-pQCT) and MR spectroscopy allow assessment of bone architecture and bone marrow composition to characterize fracture risk. Finally radiologists are also involved in the therapy of osteoporotic fractures by using vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and sacroplasty. This review article will focus on standard techniques and new concepts in diagnosing and managing osteoporosis.


Author(s):  
Terence Ong ◽  
Syed Ajmal bin Syed Ali ◽  
Opinder Sahota

Introduction: There is a lack of robust data on hospitalised acute vertebral fragility fractures. This analysis aimed to report on the number of hospitalised vertebral fragility fractures treated in a large UK teaching hospital. This information would support better design of hospital services and resource allocation to manage this group of patients. Method: Patients aged 50 years and over hospitalised with a vertebral fragility fracture from 1/2/2016 to 31/1/2017 were identified from radiology and hospital records. Patients sustaining vertebral fractures due to either major trauma or malignancy were excluded. Data was collected on patient demographics, fracture details, hospitalisation details and health outcomes. Results: 208 patients with acute vertebral fragility fractures were hospitalised over a 12 month period. The mean(SD) age was 80.5(11) years, of which 68% were female. 94% presented to the Emergency Department (ED) as their first point of contact of which 70% were subsequently hospitalised. Two-thirds presented with a single level vertebral fracture predominantly around the thoracolumbar region. The majority (87%) were non-operatively managed by general physicians of which most were under Geriatric Medicine. The median length of stay was 12 (IQR 6-20) days and in-patient mortality was 3%. 52% of patients went on to have a bone health assessment. Conclusion: We have reported on the number of patients presenting to hospital with an acute vertebral fragility fracture over 12 months. This helps identify resources needed to design hospital services to manage them adequately.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Swauger ◽  
Anthony Sabulski ◽  
Lindsey Hornung ◽  
Kasiani Myers ◽  
Halley Wasserman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Impaired bone mineral density (BMD) is a known complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in adults and may lead to increased fracture risk. Little is known in pediatrics about the risks for impaired BMD and fragility (low trauma) fractures after HSCT. Factors that may influence the risk of bone disease include underlying diagnosis, glucocorticoid exposure, and HSCT complications (e.g. graft versus host disease (GVHD)). Our study aims to describe the incidence of fragility fractures in a large diverse pediatric HSCT population and to identify risk factors of both fracture and impaired BMD. Methods: We reviewed the records of 237 patients (age ≤ 21 years at time of transplant) who underwent HSCT at our institution between January 2015 and March 2018. The primary endpoint was incidence of fragility fractures and the secondary endpoint was assessment of BMD on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We analyzed DXA results at one-year post-HSCT in 72 out of 206 patients alive at 1 year. Results: There were 25/237 (10.5%) patients with evidence of fragility fracture on x-ray. Of those, 18/25 (72%) were spine fractures. For patients who had fractures, median time to fracture was 5.9 months after BMT. Mortality at one-year was proportionally higher, though not significant (p=0.11) in patients who had at least one fragility fracture (24%; 6/25) compared to patients without fragility fracture (12%; 25/212). Vitamin D status at one-year post transplant was sufficient (>20ng/mL) in 94% (160/171) of patients measured. There was no difference in incidence of fracture between vitamin D sufficient and insufficient patients. The median height-for-age adjusted Z-score (HAZ) for spine BMD at one-year post transplant was 0.13 in all patients. The median HAZ spine BMD Z-score in patients with fragility fracture was -1.64, though data was available for only 5 patients. Conclusions: The incidence of fragility fractures, especially vertebral compression fractures, after pediatric HSCT is striking and is higher than in adult populations. Furthermore, there are likely additional asymptomatic patients with occult fractures not detected in out cohort. Additional analysis will assess the associations between underlying medical diagnosis, GVHD, and chronic glucocorticoid exposure on fragility fracture risk. The high incidence of fragility fractures seen in this study advocates for establishing bone health screening protocols with attention toward spinal imaging in pediatric patients undergoing HSCT.


2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan B. Perry ◽  
Patricia A. Downey

Although physical therapists commonly manage neuromusculoskeletal disorders and injuries, their scope of practice also includes prevention and wellness. In particular, this perspective article proposes that physical therapists are well positioned to address the client's skeletal health by incorporating fracture prevention into clinical practice with all adults. Fracture prevention consists primarily of maximizing bone strength and preventing falls. Both of these initiatives require an evidence-based, multidimensional approach that customizes interventions based on an individual's medical history, risk factors, and personal goals. The purposes of this perspective article are: (1) to review the role of exercise and nutrition in bone health and disease; (2) to introduce the use of the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®) into physical therapist practice; (3) to review the causes and prevention of falls; and (4) to propose a role for the physical therapist in promotion of bone health for all adult clients, ideally to help prevent fractures and their potentially devastating sequelae.


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