Effectiveness or Orthopedic Intervention in Osteoporosis Management After a Fracture of the Hip With Cost-Benefit Analysis

Overview

Patients who present with fragility fractures are consistently under-evaluated and under-treated for underlying osteoporosis. This point of care represents a lost opportunity to prevent future fractures. The medical field treats the fracture as if the fall is the problem, but bone quality is the real problem. Studies have consistently shown that the recommendations of the International Osteoporosis Foundation and World Health Organization are not being followed. Orthopedics treats the patients for their fractures and primary care physicians focus on general health but no one is taking responsibility for bone health. Strategies to convince primary care to assume care have not succeeded. On the other hand, strategies where orthopedics takes some responsibility have shown success. This prospective 2-arm study will evaluate the success of effort by an academic orthopedic department in osteoporosis evaluation and treatment. We hypothesize that with greater effort by the orthopedic department, the better the adherence to standards of care. A cost benefit analysis will be made in parallel.

Patients who present to the orthopedic department in a level I trauma center will be prospectively randomized into one of two groups: Letter Group: At time of discharge, patients will be sent home with a discharge letter that includes standard recommendations for evaluation and treatment. They will be asked to give the letter to their primary care physician. Intervention Group: There will be 4 interventions. The patient will be given a short pamphlet with explaining osteoporosis and the importance of treatment. The orthopedic department will perform a bone density testing (DEXA). They will be given a letter with a specific medication recommendation based on a protocol determined by our endocrinology department. They will be asked to give both DEXA and medication recommendation to their primary care doctor to initiate treatment. Finally, a research assistant will contact the patient monthly to encourage them to start treatment.