A new Irish survey has highlighted the need for a national policy to implement effective, high-quality Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in Irish hospitals to reduce the risk of fractures in patients.
The national survey, the first to be completed in Ireland, shows that implementing and equipping a national FLS would bring fracture prevention services in Irish hospitals in line with international standards. A national FLS would offer significant cost savings to the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
In Ireland, the projected increase in fragility fractures is 58% by 2030, the highest of any EU country.
The survey found that no trauma centers in Ireland cover all fracture patients. 50% of all centers reported that patients received their first osteoporosis medication prescription within four months of a fracture.
dr Frances Dockery, Joint Clinical Lead for the Fracture Liaison Service Database, said: “We urgently need a guideline to support the national implementation of FLS in Irish trauma hospitals. Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) provide the best way to identify, treat and monitor these patients and have been shown to reduce fracture rates, improve patient care and significantly reduce the cost burden on the healthcare system.
16 public hospitals were invited to participate in the survey with a 100% response rate. Ten sites (62.5%) reported the presence of FLS and treated 3,444 non-hip fractures in 2019, representing 19% of the expected number of non-hip fractures occurring annually in Ireland.
Six of the 10 sites surveyed indicated that their services were established more than a decade ago but failed to meet the thirteen standards of the International Best Practice Framework – “Capture the Fracture” – due to insufficient resources. However, elements of a quality FLS service have been achieved, including a comprehensive fall risk assessment.
The publication and site survey results demonstrate the urgent need for a nationwide implementation of FLS. FLS has been internationally proven to be clinically and economically effective for management of secondary fracture prevention. This service will result in reduced hospital admissions. The program fully supports the establishment of the FLS database, which will publish its preliminary report and recommendations later this year.”
Mr. Paddy Kenny, Joint National Clinical Lead for the National Clinical Program for Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery (NCPTOS)
Source:
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
