Management of hospitalised osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Hormones and Aging: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement

Multiple changes occur across various endocrine systems as an individual ages. The understanding of the factors that cause age-related changes and how they should be managed clinically is evolving. This statement reviews the current state of research in the growth hormone, adrenal, ovarian, testicular, and thyroid axes, as well as in osteoporosis, vitamin D deficiency, type 2 diabetes, and water metabolism, with a specific focus on older individuals. Each section describes the natural history and observational data in older individuals, available therapies, clinical trial data on efficacy and safety in older individuals, key points, and scientific gaps. The goal of this statement is to inform future research that refines prevention and treatment strategies in age-associated endocrine conditions, with the goal of improving the health of older individuals.

Spine Bracing: When to Utilize-A Narrative Review

Spinal bracing is a common non-surgical technique that allows clinicians to prevent and correct malformations or injuries of a patient's spinal column. This review will explore the current standards of practice on spinal brace utilization. Specifically, it will highlight bracing usage in traumatic injuries, pregnancy, pediatrics, osteoporosis, and hyperkyphosis; address radiological findings concurrent with brace usage; and provide an overview of the braces currently available and advancements in the field. In doing so, we aim to improve clinicians' understanding and knowledge of bracing in common spinal pathologies to promote their appropriate use and improve patient outcomes.

Physiotherapy post Vertebral Fragility Fracture: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The incidence of vertebral fragility fractures (VFF) is rising, placing a major burden on individuals and health systems. No comprehensive picture of the research regarding physiotherapy exists for this patient cohort.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review aims to summarise the research regarding Physiotherapy post VFF, the type of physiotherapy interventions employed and outcome measures utilised.

DESIGN

Scoping review, adhering to the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Databases searched were PubMed, PEDro, CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase from 2005 to November 2021. Grey literature searching was conducted using ProQuest and Open Grey. A narrative summary of data was compiled to describe the current evidence regarding physiotherapy post VFF.

STUDY SELECTION

Articles were included if they related to Physiotherapy interventions delivered to patients with VFF in any setting.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A narrative synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were included with five randomised control trials, three pilot RCTs, two qualitative studies, one cross-sectional survey of clinicians, one cohort study and one prospective comparative study. Interventions most commonly reported were exercise, education or manual therapy. A large diversity of outcome measures was utilised most commonly in the spinal deformity, physical performance and balance, pain and quality of life domains.

CONCLUSION

Findings of this scoping review indicate the limited evidence to guide physiotherapists in the management of patients with VFF. The most commonly explored physiotherapy interventions were exercise, manual therapy and education. A diversity of outcome measures is utilised. Research is urgently needed, including high quality clinical trials with representative populations and studies exploring physiotherapy practice and the experience of patients with VFF. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.

Fracture liaison services in Ireland-how do we compare to international standards?

In this first na tional survey of public hospitals in The Republic of Ireland, we found fracture liaison services (FLS) to be heterogeneous, limited in many cases and poorly supported. A national strategy is urgently needed to support the implementation and operation of an FLS, and thus help reduce the burden of fragility fractures for patients and the healthcare system.

INTRODUCTION

Fragility/low-trauma fractures are a global concern, whose incidence is rising as the population ages. Many are preventable, and people with a prior fragility fracture are at particularly high risk of further fractures. This patient group is the target of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Capture the Fracture campaign, advocating global adoption of fracture liaison services (FLS), with the aim of preventing secondary fragility fractures. We wished to determine the current availability and standards of an FLS in Ireland, ahead of the launch of a National FLS database.

METHODS

We devised a questionnaire encompassing the thirteen IOF standards for an FLS and asked all 16 public hospitals with an orthopaedic trauma unit in Ireland, to complete for the calendar year 2019 in patients aged ≥ 50 years.

RESULTS

All sites returned the questionnaire, i.e. 100% response rate. Nine hospitals stated that they have an FLS, additionally one non-trauma hospital running a FLS responded, and were included. These 10 FLS had identified and managed 3444 non-hip fractures in the year 2019. This figure represents 19% of the expected non-hip fragility fracture numbers occurring annually in Ireland. Implementation of the IOF standards was very variable. All sites reported being inadequately resourced to provide a high-quality service necessary to be effective.

CONCLUSION

The existence and functioning of FLS in Ireland are heterogeneous and suboptimal. A national policy to support the implementation of this programme in line with international standards of patient care is urgently needed.

Assessment of Quality of Life and Pain Severity in Older Men with Osteoporosis: Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

The quality of life in osteoporosis is studied for men rather than for women. Aim of the study was to determine how bone mass density (BMD) relates to life quality components and the severity of pain felt by men affected by osteoporosis.

METHODS

Presented research is a cross-sectional study. The cohort of 62 men aged 65 to 85 years was divided into a group with osteoporosis (N = 27) and a group without osteoporosis (N = 35). The participants' quality of life was measured with the Qualeffo41 Questionnaire, BMD was quantified by densitometry, and pain intensity was assessed on the Visual Analogue Scale.

RESULTS

We found that lower BMD was strongly correlated to participants' quality of life (r = -0.72), especially the quality of leisure and social activities (r = -0.66), general health perception (r = -0.59), and mobility (r = -0.57). Pain significantly affected general health perception in older men with osteoporosis. General health assessment and pain were highly correlated with each other (r = 0.888).

CONCLUSION

BMD and the overall quality of life of the study participants were related to each other. The strongest relationship occurred between reduced BMD and leisure and social activities component. The pain significantly affected participants' general health perception. The results may be employed to create new prophylactic strategies to improve life quality in men with osteoporosis.

Spinal Orthoses Prescription for Vertebral Fragility Fractures by Italian Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians: The SPIN-VER Survey

Vertebral fragility fractures (VFFs) are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures, related to pain and disability. In this scenario, physical and rehabilitative medicine (PRM) physicians prescribe a patient-tailored rehabilitation plan, including spinal orthoses. However, there is a high heterogeneity in the clinical indications of spinal orthoses. Thus, the aim of this survey was to investigate common clinical practice in terms of the prescription of spinal orthoses. This nationwide cross-sectional survey recruited Italian PRM physicians commonly involved in the management of patients with VFFs. One hundred twenty-six PRM physicians completed the survey. The results showed that most PRM physicians prescribe spinal orthoses in outpatients suffering from VFFs (n = 106; 83.9%). The most prescribed spinal orthosis for acute VFF patients was the three-point rigid orthosis (n = 64; 50.8%), followed by the semirigid thoraco-lumbar orthosis (n: 20; 15.9%). However, most PRM physicians prescribed dynamic orthoses in outpatients with chronic VFFs (n = 66; 52.4%). Albeit that a correct management of VFFs is mandatory to improve pain and reduce disability, our findings highlighted uncertainty in the type of spinal orthosis prescription in both the acute and chronic VFF phase. Therefore, high-quality research trials are warranted to provide clear recommendations for the correct clinical management of VFF.

The Role of Spinal Orthoses in Osteoporotic Vertebral Fractures of the Elderly Population (Age 60 Years or Older): Systematic Review

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

Spinal orthoses have been generally used in the management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the elderly population with purported positive biomechanical and functional effects. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of the literature examining the role of spinal orthoses in osteoporotic elderly patients who sustain low energy trauma vertebral fractures.

METHODS

A systematic literature review adherent to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was conducted. Methodical searches utilizing MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Databases was performed.

RESULTS

Of the 2019 articles initially retrieved, 7 published articles (4 randomized controlled trials and 3 prospective cohort studies) satisfied the inclusion criteria. Five studies reported improvement in quantitative measurements of spinal column stability when either a rigid or semirigid orthosis was used, while 1 study was equivocal. The studies also showed the translation of biomechanical benefit into significant functional improvement as manifested by improved postural stability and reduced body sway. Subjective improvement in pain scores and quality of life was also noted with bracing.

CONCLUSION

The use of spinal orthoses in neurologically intact elderly patients aged 60 years and older with osteoporotic compression vertebral fractures results in improved biomechanical vertebral stability, reduced kyphotic deformity, enhanced postural stability, greater muscular strength and superior functional outcomes.

EVALUATION OF POST-SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF FRAGILITY FRACTURES

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the conduct of Brazilian orthopedists regarding preventive treatment after fragility fracture surgery.

METHODS

A questionnaire was applied to Brazilian orthopedists. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 16.0 program.

RESULTS

257 participants were analyzed. Most participants, 90.7% (n = 233), reported that they cared for patients with fractures and 62.3% (n = 160) treated them. The most indicated treatments were vitamin D (22.6%; n = 134) and calcium supplementation (21.4%; n = 127). According to the experience of the physicians - experienced (n = 184) and residents (n = 73) - fragility fractures were more common in the routine of residents (98.6%; n = 72) than experienced physicians (87.5%; n = 161), p = 0.0115. While treatment conduction was more reported by experienced physicians (63.6%; n = 117) than residents (58.9%; n = 43), p = 0.004. More experienced orthopedists (21.4%; n = 97) indicated treatment with bisphosphates than residents (14.2%; n = 20), p = 0.0266.

CONCLUSION

Although most professionals prescribe treatment after fragility fracture surgery, about 40% of professionals still do not treat it, with differences in relation to experience. In this sense, we reinforce the importance of secondary prevention in the management of fragility fractures. Level of Evidence II, Prospective comparative study.