Increased Geriatric Treatment Frequency Improves Mobility and Secondary Fracture Prevention in Older Adult Hip Fracture Patients—An Observational Cohort Study of 23,828 Patients from the Registry for Geriatric Trauma (ATR-DGU)

Interdisciplinary orthogeriatric care of older adult hip fracture patients is of growing importance due to an ageing population, yet there is ongoing disagreement about the most effective model of care. This study aimed to compare different forms of orthogeriatric treatment, with focus on their impact on postoperative mobilization, mobility and secondary fracture prevention. In this observational cohort study, patients aged 70 years and older with a proximal femur fracture requiring surgery, were included from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019. Data were recorded from hospital stay to 120-day follow-up in the Registry for Geriatric Trauma (ATR-DGU), a specific designed registry for older adult hip fracture patients. Of 23,828 included patients from 95 different hospitals, 72% were female, median age was 85 (IQR 80–89) years. Increased involvement of geriatricians had a significant impact on mobilization on the first day (OR 1.1, CI 1.1–1.2) and mobility seven days after surgery (OR 1.1, CI 1.1–1.2), initiation of an osteoporosis treatment during in-hospital stay (OR 2.5, CI 2.4–2.7) and of an early complex geriatric rehabilitation treatment (OR 1.3, CI 1.2–1.4). These findings were persistent after 120 days of follow-up. Interdisciplinary treatment of orthogeriatric patients is beneficial and especially during in-patient stay increased involvement of geriatricians is decisive for early mobilization, mobility and initiation of osteoporosis treatment. Standardized treatment pathways in certified geriatric trauma departments with structured data collection in specific registries improve outcome monitoring and interpretation.

First results of the register of patients with osteoporosis included in the secondary fracture prevention services

Background. To reduce the number of osteoporotic fractures in the world in recent years, — Fracture Liaison Service has been created. Since 2019, the development of a register of patients included in the Secondary Fracture Prevention named «Prometheus» has begun in Russia.Materials and methods. An information system for storing, searching and processing information has been created, and a registration card has been developed. Six FLS participate in the register management. As of 10.03.2021, data on 387 patients were introduced in the register.Results. Among the included patients, 46.25% received a fracture of the proximal femur, 20.41% — of the vertebral bodies and 16.80% of the proximal humerus, the rest had fractures of other localizations. The risk of fractures was assessed in all patients. A high risk of major osteoporotic fractures according to FRAX was determined in 160 (43.24%) people. Two-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was performed in 152 (39.28%) patients, and osteoporosis was detected in 103 (67.76%), osteopenia — in 42 (27.63%) patients. The risk of falls was assessed in 100% of the included patients, and the risk of falls was determined to be high in 343 (88.63%) patients. Evaluation of various laboratory parameters to find the causes of secondary osteoporosis was performed in most patients. After consultation with the FLS doctor, anti-osteoporotic drugs were prescribed to 241 (64.27%) people. Among the rest, 70 (52.24%) patients had contra-indications and 31 (23.13%) people needed further examination.Conclusions. Thus, the use of the register allows you to evaluate all the main sections of the organization of assistance within the FLS and compare them with international standards to identify «gaps» and improve the work of the service.

Early benefits of a secondary fracture prevention programme

Introduction: The most successful programme for secondary fracture prevention is the FLS (fracture liaison service) model. Our orthopaedic department carried out a prospective randomised study to measure the effectiveness of a 4-step intervention programme. The findings in this study reveal important additional clinical benefits to having an orthopaedic-based FLS programme and evaluates the usefulness of fracture risk tools. Methods: We carried out a prospective study to evaluate patients with a fragility fracture of the hip. There were 2 groups, intervention and control (each 100 patients). Of these, 20 were either removed from the study or dropped out, leaving 180 for analysis. In addition to routine preoperative blood tests, albumin and thyroid function levels were obtained and PTH (parathyroid hormone) levels when indicated. The intervention group (83 patients) had a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan performed and fracture risk (FRAX) was calculated. Results: 12 patients (6.7%) had blood results which showed a potentially treatable cause for osteoporosis and 36 (20%) had blood results that changed their medical care. FRAX scores (180 patients) showed that the major osteoporotic fracture score correctly predicted the hip fracture in only 49%. The hip fracture score correctly predicted the hip fracture in 83%. DEXA scores (65 patients) showed osteoporosis in only 46% of hips and in only 26% of spines. An abnormal FRAX score or DEXA scan would have predicted a fragility fracture 93% of the time. Conclusions: In addition to reducing secondary fractures, FLS programmes can provide fundamental benefits to the health of the patient. The intervention programme in this study identified patients with underlying treatable causes, correctable clinical conditions and patients with an unusually low bone density. When used together, FRAX and DEXA are more sensitive predictors for hip fracture risk than either are individually. Trial registry: 201497CTIL ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02239523 )