title: Fracture liaison service in a non-regional orthopaedic clinic--a cost-effective service.
abstract: Fracture liaison services (FLS) aim to provide cost-effective targeting of secondary fracture prevention. It is proposed that a dedicated FLS be available in any hospital to which a patient presents with a fracture. An existing orthopaedic clinic nurse was retrained to deliver a FLS. Proformas were used so that different nurses could assume the fracture liaison nurse (FLN) role, as required. Screening consisted of fracture risk estimation, phlebotomy and DXA scanning. 124 (11%) of all patients attending the orthopaedic fracture clinic were reviewed in the FLS. Upper limb fractures accounted for the majority of fragility fractures screened n=69 (55.6%). Two-thirds of patients (n=69) had reduced bone mineral density (BMD). An evidence based approach to both non-pharmacological and pharmacotherapy was used and most patients (76.6%) receiving pharmacotherapy received an oral bisphosphonate (n=46). The FLS has proven to be an effective way of delivering secondary prevention for osteoporotic fracture in a non-regional fracture clinic, without increasing staff costs.
authors.affiliation: South Tipperary General Hospital, Western road, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Durcan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Beirne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinlan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pillay
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents