Ten years change in post-fracture care for hip fracture patients

Effectiveness of fracture liaison service in reducing the risk of secondary fragility fractures in adults aged 50 and older: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To determine and appraise the certainty of fracture liaison service (FLS) in reducing the risk of secondary fragility fractures in older adults aged ≥ 50 years and to examine the nature of the FLS and the roles of various disciplines involved in the delivery of the FLS. Medline, EMBASE, PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and The Cochrane Library were searched from January 1st, 2010, to May 31st, 2022. Two reviewers independently extracted data. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies and the PEDro scale for randomized trials, while the GRADE approach established the certainty of the evidence. Thirty-seven studies were identified of which 34 (91.9%) were rated as having a low risk of bias and 22 (59.5%) were meta-analyzed. Clinically important low certainty evidence at 1 year (RR 0.26, CI 0.13 to 0.52, 6 pooled studies) and moderate certainty evidence at ≥ 2 years (RR 0.68, CI 0.55 to 0.83, 13 pooled studies) indicate that the risk of secondary fragility fracture was lower in the FLS intervention compared to the non-FLS intervention. Sensitivity analyses with no observed heterogeneity confirmed these findings. This review found clinically important moderate certainty evidence showing that the risk of secondary fragility fracture was lower in the FLS intervention at ≥ 2 years. More high-quality studies in this field could improve the certainty of the evidence. Review registration: PROSPERO-CRD42021266408.

Secondary fracture rates and risk factors 1 year after a proximal femoral fracture under FLS

INTRODUCTION

We aimed to investigate the secondary fracture rates and risk factors in patients with proximal femoral fractures using fracture liaison service (FLS) during the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this multi-center prospective cohort study, patients with proximal femoral fractures who were treated surgically at three hospitals from April 2020 to March 2021 were included. Follow-up examinations at 6 and 12 months postoperatively were conducted to investigate the clinical data and ascertain whether osteoporosis treatment could be continued.

RESULTS

A total of 316 patients with proximal femoral fractures were registered. During the follow-up period, 17 patients died and 67 patients could not visit the hospitals owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 172 patients who could be followed-up 12 months postoperatively were examined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry during hospitalization; underwent postoperative osteoporosis treatment, mainly with bisphosphonates (89.5%); and were administered medications continuously. Secondary fractures occurred within 1 year in 14 patients (8.1%). Multivariate analysis showed that patients who used sleeping pills and had a lower functional independence measure had an increased risk for developing secondary fractures.

CONCLUSION

During the COVID-19 pandemic, secondary fractures can be prevented if the patients can be followed and osteoporosis treatment can be continued. Conversely, despite adequate osteoporosis drug examination and treatment, a certain number of secondary fractures still occurred. The finding that postoperative osteoporosis therapy using routine medications and rehabilitation is associated with secondary fractures may support the importance of establishing clinical standards consisting of a multidisciplinary collaboration for FLS.

Bisphosphonates Prescription for Patients With Hip Fractures Based on Evaluation by a Dentist

Background The purpose of this study is to clarify the current status of the prescription of postoperative bisphosphonates for patients with hip fractures and to explore the factors that prevent the postoperative prescription of bisphosphonates. Methods Of 180 patients with hip fractures treated surgically at our hospital between August 2019 and April 2020, 149 patients (46 men and 103 women; mean age: 83.9 ± 9.0 years), excluding 31 patients already prescribed bisphosphonates or denosumab, were included in the study. All patients were treated based on our clinical pathway, and their risk of jaw osteonecrosis was evaluated prior to the initiation of bisphosphonates by a dentist in our hospital. We collected data from the medical records on osteoporosis treatment interventions at admission and discharge, the reasons why postoperative bisphosphonates could not be prescribed at discharge, the proportion of patients who had follow-ups at our hospital, and patients' osteoporosis treatment status. Results Eighteen (12.8%) and 95 (63.8%) patients were prescribed anti-osteoporosis drugs at admission and discharge, respectively. One hundred and twenty-one patients (86.8%) could not be prescribed postoperative bisphosphonates at discharge - 71 (58.7%) because of oral hygiene problems, 34 (28.1%) because they did not have regular dental consultations, seven (5.8%) because of renal dysfunction, eight (6.6%) because of poor cognitive and swallowing function, and one (0.8%) because of medication side effects. Forty-nine patients (32.9%) went to our hospital for follow-up and 11 were introduced to bisphosphonates or denosumab at follow-up. Conclusions The number of patients with hip fractures who were prescribed postoperative bisphosphonates was low in our study. The oral hygiene problems identified by dentists accounted for responsible for the low prescription rate of postoperative bisphosphonates. Therefore, coordination with dentists may be important to increase the postoperative bisphosphonate prescription.

The global burden of fragility fractures - what are the differences, and where are the gaps

The current burden of fragility fractures is enormous, and it is set to increase rapidly in the coming decades as humankind enters a new demographic era. The purpose of this review is to consider, in different settings: • The human and economic toll of fragility fractures. • Risk factors for fragility fractures. • Current acute management of fragility fractures. • Current care gaps in both secondary and primary fracture prevention. A summary of global, regional, and national initiatives to improve the quality of care is provided, in addition to proposals for the research agenda. Systematic approaches to improve the acute care, rehabilitation and prevention of fragility fractures need to be developed and implemented rapidly and at scale in high-, middle- and low-income countries throughout the world. This must be an essential component of our response to the ageing of the global population during the remainder of the current United Nations - World Health Organization "Decade of Healthy Ageing".

Quality improvement initiatives in the care and prevention of fragility fractures in the Asia Pacific region

This narrative review summarises ongoing challenges and progress in the care and prevention of fragility fractures across the Asia Pacific region since mid-2019. The approaches taken could inform development of national bone health improvement Road Maps to be implemented at scale during the United Nations 'Decade of Healthy Ageing'.

PURPOSE

This narrative review summarises recent studies that characterise the burden of fragility fractures, current care gaps and quality improvement initiatives intended to improve the care and prevention of fragility fractures across the Asia Pacific region.

METHODS

The review focuses on published studies, reports and quality improvement initiatives undertaken during the period July 2019 to May 2022.

RESULTS

Epidemiological studies conducted in countries and regions throughout Asia Pacific highlight the current and projected increasing burden of fragility fractures. Recent studies and reports document a persistent and pervasive post-fracture care gap among people who have sustained fragility fractures. Global initiatives developed by the Fragility Fracture Network and International Osteoporosis Foundation have gained significant momentum in the Asia Pacific region, despite the disruption caused by the COVID-pandemic. The Asia Pacific Fragility Fracture Alliance has developed educational resources including a Hip Fracture Registry Toolbox and a Primary Care Physician Education Toolkit. The Asia Pacific Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures Society-a new section of the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association-is working to engage orthopaedic surgeons across the region in the care and prevention of fragility fractures. The Asia Pacific Consortium on Osteoporosis developed a framework to support national clinical guidelines development groups. Considerable activity at the national level is evident in many countries across the region.

CONCLUSION

Development and implementation of national Road Maps informed by the findings of this review are urgently required to respond to the epidemiological emergency posed by fragility fractures during the United Nations 'Decade of Healthy Ageing'.

Machine Learning Algorithms: Prediction and Feature Selection for Clinical Refracture after Surgically Treated Fragility Fracture

BACKGROUND

The number of patients with fragility fracture has been increasing. Although the increasing number of patients with fragility fracture increased the rate of fracture (refracture), the causes of refracture are multifactorial, and its predictors are still not clarified. In this issue, we collected a registry-based longitudinal dataset that contained more than 7000 patients with fragility fractures treated surgically to detect potential predictors for clinical refracture.

METHODS

Based on the fact that machine learning algorithms are often used for the analysis of a large-scale dataset, we developed automatic prediction models and clarified the relevant features for patients with clinical refracture. Formats of input data containing perioperative clinical information were table data. Clinical refracture was documented as the primary outcome if the diagnosis of fracture was made at postoperative outpatient care. A decision-tree-based model, LightGBM, had moderate accuracy for the prediction in the test and the independent dataset, whereas the other models had poor accuracy or worse.

RESULTS

From a clinical perspective, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) were noted as the relevant features for patients with clinical refracture, both of which were associated with secondary osteoporosis.

CONCLUSION

The decision-tree-based algorithm showed the precise prediction of clinical refracture, in which RA and CKD were detected as the potential predictors. Understanding these predictors may improve the management of patients with fragility fractures.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a Risk Factor for Refracture in Patients with Fragility Fractures

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had fragility fractures are at an increased risk of refractures.

METHODS

Patients with fragility fractures who were treated surgically at ten hospitals from 2008 to 2017 and who underwent follow-up for more than 24 months were either categorized into a group comprising patients with RA or a group comprising patients without RA (controls). The groups were matched 1:1 by propensity score matching. Accordingly, 240 matched participants were included in this study. The primary outcome was the refracture rate in patients with RA as compared to in the controls. Multivariable analyses were also conducted on patients with RA to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) for the refracture rates.

RESULTS

Patients with RA were significantly associated with increased rates of refractures during the first 24 months (OR: 2.714, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.015-7.255; P = 0.040). Multivariable analyses revealed a significant association between increased refracture rates and long-term RA (OR: 6.308, 95% CI: 1.195-33.292; P=0.030).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RA who have experienced fragility fractures are at an increased risk of refractures. Long-term RA is a substantial risk factor for refractures.

Prevalence, Characteristics, and Associated Risk Factors of the Elderly with Hip Fractures: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of NHANES 2005-2010

Objective

This cross-sectional study was aimed to update the assessment of prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of the elderly with hip fractures in a non-institutionalized American population.

Methods

This current study included a total of 31,034 participants from the existing National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) database from 2005 to 2010, and 4,265 participants aged 65 years and older were ultimately identified. Their condition of hip fractures was determined by method of questionnaires according to the orthopedic surgeons' diagnosis, and related epidemiological and demographic data were further collected. The univariate analysis was used to screen the risk factors of hip fractures in the elderly, and the logistic regression model was established to conduct the multivariate analysis.

Results

Of the total 4,265 participants with clear information of hip fractures in elderly, 127 individuals with hip fractures were identified according to results of questionnaires, exhibiting a prevalence of 28.49 per 1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI]=21.38-35.60) for males and 31.03 per 1,000 (95% CI=23.72-38.35) for females. The mean age of the elderly with hip fractures was 77.12±5.88 years and tumble (48.0%) was the primary factor. In univariate analysis, age, race, smoking, drinking alcohol, and combined with osteoporosis were regarded as risk factors. Multivariate analysis showed that age (80 years and older), living alone, smoking, combined with diabetes and osteoporosis were the independent risk factors.

Conclusion

Our nationwide data indicate the prevalence of hip fractures in the elderly is generally on the rise, and the female occupies a higher proportion. Age (especially aged 80 years and older), race (mainly Non-Hispanic white), smoking, drinking alcohol, living alone, combined with diabetes and osteoporosis may be closely linked to the occurrence of hip fractures in the elderly, although these variables still need to be verified in further prospective investigations.