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Secondary Fracture Prevention

  • Current Therapeutics (SL Silverman, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Osteoporosis causes no symptoms until there is a fracture. Although screening for osteoporosis is recommended for some populations, patients may present with a fragility fracture. Such patients are at high risk for subsequent fractures. Despite this high risk and the presence of generally safe and effective osteoporosis therapy, only a minority of low trauma fracture patients have evaluation and treatment of underlying osteoporosis. A brief summary of the evaluation and medical treatment of the post-fracture patient is provided. Several institutions, integrated health systems, and countries have instituted programs to identify, evaluate, and treat fragility fracture patients. Such programs have had variable success. This article describes some of the programs that work, their cost-effectiveness, and the applicability to the generally non-integrated US health care system. It is clear that better management of the post-fracture patient (and other high-risk patients) will lead to fewer fractures, decreased morbidity and mortality, and long-term cost savings.

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Disclosure

Conflicts of interest: R.A. Adler: has been a consultant for Eli Lilly; and has received grant support from Genentech, Novartis, Merck, Amgen, and Eli Lilly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology and Metabolism Section, McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA

    Robert A. Adler

  2. Departments of Internal Medicine and of Epidemiology and Community Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, P.O. Box 980111, Richmond, VA, 23298-0111, USA

    Robert A. Adler

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Correspondence to Robert A. Adler.

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Adler, R.A. Secondary Fracture Prevention. Curr Osteoporos Rep 10, 22–27 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-011-0090-z

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