Treatment of osteoporosis: missed opportunities in the hospital fracture clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To identify what proportion of patients who, having sustained an initial distal radial fragility fracture and a subsequent femoral neck fracture, had had their osteoporosis addressed in the interval between the two events.


METHODS
The hospital electronic information system was used to identify all patients aged over 50 years treated for a distal radial fracture, in our fracture clinic, between 1995-2000. In addition all patients admitted to our hospital, during the same time period, with a femoral neck fracture were identified.


RESULTS
A study cohort of 74 patients were identified. The proportion of patients who received investigation of, or treatment for, osteoporosis between their wrist and femoral neck fracture was 8% whereas 84% did not.


CONCLUSIONS
Current mechanisms for identifying patients with osteoporosis before they sustain a femoral neck fracture are inadequate.
Smith
M G
MG
South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, UK. mgsmith@doctors.org.uk
Dunkow
P
P
Lang
D M
DM
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000209:etiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution