title: Does a distal forearm fracture lead to evaluation for osteoporosis? A retrospective cohort study in 147 Danish women.
abstract: In postmenopausal women, a low-trauma distal forearm fracture is a risk factor for osteoporosis and future fracture, which indicates osteoporosis follow-up according to prevailing guidelines. We decided to determine how often women over 45 yr presenting with a low-trauma distal forearm fracture to a Danish emergency department during a 1-yr period were followed up for osteoporosis. We performed a retrospective review of hospital records and we sent the women and their general practitioners (GPs) questionnaires regarding the follow-up undertaken in primary care. Finally, we invited the women for a densitometry to estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis. From May 1, 2001 to April 30, 2002, 147 women presented with a low-trauma distal forearm fractures. According to the review of hospital records, none of the women was referred for bone densitometry or spine X-rays. One woman had calcium and vitamin D supplementation (CVDS) prescribed and two were recommended to consult their GPs for osteoporosis follow-up. In primary care, 12 women were referred for densitometry or spine X-rays, and 11 women started CVDS after the fracture. Women with risk factors for osteoporosis in addition to the forearm fracture were not more likely to be referred for densitometry or spine X-rays (p = 0.10). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 24% among the 79 women who underwent densitometry. Our study demonstrates a low use of available measures to reduce the risk of future fracture in women with a low-trauma distal forearm fracture, and it emphasizes the need to decide on a local level how to provide osteoporosis follow-up for women with fragility fractures.
authors.affiliation: The Osteoporosis Unit, Department of Endocrinology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Kettegård Allé 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark. bo.rud@hh.hosp.dk
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rud
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greibe
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hyldstrup
authors.forename: Henrik Ancher
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003100:Colles' Fracture / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*