Management of osteoporosis in women with peripheral osteoporotic fractures after 50 years of age: a study of practices.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate practices regarding the management of osteoporosis revealed by low-impact peripheral fractures in women older than 50 years of age.

METHODS

Six orthopedic surgeons prospectively recruited patients presenting with their first low-impact peripheral fracture. Three months after the fracture, each patient's usual primary-care physician provided information on management.

RESULTS

The 132 patients (140 fractures) included in the study had a mean age of 73.8 years. Fracture sites in decreasing order of frequency were the wrist (29%), the hip (28%), the ankle (19%), the pelvis, the humerus, and the leg. Data on management by the primary-care physician were available for 106 patients. Fifty patients (50/106, 47%) were given a diagnosis of osteoporosis by their primary-care physician and 38 (38/106, 35%) received medications for osteoporosis.

CONCLUSION

In two-thirds of patients, a valuable opportunity for using the effective treatments available for osteoporosis was lost. Given the high risk of further fractures in this population, our finding is of great concern.