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Background: Initiation of anti-osteoporosis medications after hip fracture lowers the risk of subsequent fragility fractures. Historical biases of targeting secondary fracture prevention towards certain groups may result in treatment disparities. We examined associations of patient age, sex and race with anti-osteoporosis medication prescription following hip fracture. Methods: A cohort of patients with a hip fracture between 2016–2018 was assembled from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program registry. Patients on anti-osteoporosis medications prior to admission were excluded. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine adjusted associations between patient age, sex and race and their interactions with prescription of anti-osteoporosis medications within 30 days of surgery. Results: In total, 12,249 patients with a hip fracture were identified with a median age of 82 years (IQR: 73–87), and 67% were female (n = 8,218). Thirty days postoperatively, 26% (n = 3146) of patients had been prescribed anti-osteoporosis medication. A significant interaction between age and sex with medication prescription was observed (p = 0.04). Male patients in their 50s (OR:0.75, 95%CI:0.60–0.92), 60s (OR:0.81, 95%CI:0.70–0.94) and 70s (OR:0.89, 95%CI:0.81–0.97) were less likely to be prescribed anti-osteoporosis medication compared to female patients of the same age. Patients who belonged to minority racial groups were not less likely to receive anti-osteoporosis medications than patients of white race. Interpretation: Only 26% of patients were prescribed anti-osteoporosis medications following hip fracture, despite consensus guidelines urging early initiation of secondary prevention treatments. Given that prescription varied by age and sex, strategies to prevent disparities in secondary fracture prevention are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The orthopedic community is in a unique position to initiate and provide osteoporosis care in fragility fracture patients to prevent future hip fractures in a high-risk population. The attitudes [...]

Background: Compromised bone health is often associated with depression and chronic pain. Objective: To examine: (1) the experience of existing depression and chronic nonfracture pain in patients with a fragility fracture; and (2) the effects of the fracture on depression and pain. Design: A phenomenological study guided by Giorgi's analytical procedures. Setting and Participants: Fracture patients who reported taking prescription medication for one or more comorbidities, excluding compromised bone health. Main Variables Studied: Patients were interviewed within 6 weeks of their fracture, and 1 year later. Interview questions addressed the recent fracture and patients' experience with bone health and their other health conditions, such as depression and chronic pain, including the medications taken for these conditions. Results: Twenty‐six patients (5 men, 21 women) aged 45–84 years old with hip (n = 5) and nonhip (n = 21) fractures were recruited. Twenty‐one participants reported depression and/or chronic nonfracture pain, of which seven reported having both depression and chronic pain. Two themes were consistent, based on our analysis: (1) depression and chronic pain overshadowed attention to bone health; and (2) the fracture exacerbated reported experiences of existing depression and chronic pain. Conclusion: Experiences with depression and pain take priority over bone health and may worsen as a result of the fracture. Health care providers treating fragility fractures might ask patients about depression and pain and take appropriate steps to address patients' more general emotional and physical state. Patient Contribution: A patient representative was involved in the study conception, data interpretation and manuscript writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Fractures associated with bone fragility in older adults signal the potential for secondary fracture. Fragility fractures often precipitate further decline in health and loss of mobility, with high associated costs for patients, families, society and the healthcare system. Promptly initiating a coordinated, comprehensive pharmacological bone health and falls prevention program post-fracture may improve osteoporosis treatment compliance; and reduce rates of falls and secondary fractures, and associated morbidity, mortality and costs. Methods/design This pragmatic, controlled trial at 11 hospital sites in eight regions in Quebec, Canada, will recruit community-dwelling patients over age 50 who have sustained a fragility fracture to an intervention coordinated program or to standard care, according to the site. Site study coordinators will identify and recruit 1,596 participants for each study arm. Coordinators at intervention sites will facilitate continuity of care for bone health, and arrange fall prevention programs including physical exercise. The intervention teams include medical bone specialists, primary care physicians, pharmacists, nurses, rehabilitation clinicians, and community program organizers. The primary outcome of this study is the incidence of secondary fragility fractures within an 18-month follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include initiation and compliance with bone health medication; time to first fall and number of clinically significant falls; fall-related hospitalization and mortality; physical activity; quality of life; fragility fracture-related costs; admission to a long term care facility; participants’ perceptions of care integration, expectations and satisfaction with the program; and participants’ compliance with the fall prevention program. Finally, professionals at intervention sites will participate in focus groups to identify barriers and facilitating factors for the integrated fragility fracture prevention program. This integrated program will facilitate knowledge translation and dissemination via the following: involvement of various collaborators during the development and set-up of the integrated program; distribution of pamphlets about osteoporosis and fall prevention strategies to primary care physicians in the intervention group and patients in the control group; participation in evaluation activities; and eventual dissemination of study results. Study/trial registration Clinical Trial.Gov NCT01745068 Study ID number CIHR grant # 267395

Abstract Background Patients' values and preferences are fundamental tenets of evidence-based practice, yet current osteoporosis (OP) clinical guidelines pay little attention to these issues in therapeutic decision making. This may be in part due to the fact that few studies have examined the factors that influence the initial decision to take OP medication. The purpose of our study was to examine patients' experiences with the decision to take OP medication after they sustained a fracture. Methods A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with outpatients identified in a university teaching hospital fracture clinic OP program. Individuals aged 65+ who had sustained a fragility fracture within 5 years, were 'high risk' for future fracture, and were prescribed OP medication were eligible. Analysis of interview data was guided by Giorgi's methodology. Results 21 patients (6 males, 15 females) aged 65-88 years participated. All participants had low bone mass; 9 had OP. Fourteen patients were taking a bisphosphonate while 7 patients were taking no OP medications. For 12 participants, the decision to take OP medication occurred at the time of prescription and involved minimal contemplation (10/12 were on medication). These patients made their decision because they liked/trusted their health care provider. However, 4/10 participants in this group indicated their OP medication-taking status might change. For the remaining 9 patients, the decision was more difficult (4/9 were on medication). These patients were unconvinced by their health care provider, engaged in risk-benefit analyses using other information sources, and were concerned about side effects; 7/9 patients indicated that their OP medication-taking status might change at a later date. Conclusions Almost half of our older patients who had sustained a fracture found the decision to take OP medication a difficult one. In general, the decision was not considered permanent. Health care providers should be aware of their potential role in patients' decisions and monitor patients' decisions over time.

Background: Fractures associated with bone fragility in older adults signal the potential for secondary fracture. Fragility fractures often precipitate further decline in health and loss of mobility, with high associated costs for patients, families, society and the healthcare system. Promptly initiating a coordinated, comprehensive pharmacological bone health and falls prevention program post-fracture may improve osteoporosis treatment compliance; and reduce rates of falls and secondary fractures, and associated morbidity, mortality and costs. Methods/design: This pragmatic, controlled trial at 11 hospital sites in eight regions in Quebec, Canada, will recruit community-dwelling patients over age 50 who have sustained a fragility fracture to an intervention coordinated program or to standard care, according to the site. Site study coordinators will identify and recruit 1,596 participants for each study arm. Coordinators at intervention sites will facilitate continuity of care for bone health, and arrange fall prevention programs including physical exercise. The intervention teams include medical bone specialists, primary care physicians, pharmacists, nurses, rehabilitation clinicians, and community program organizers. The primary outcome of this study is the incidence of secondary fragility fractures within an 18-month follow-up period. Secondary outcomes include initiation and compliance with bone health medication; time to first fall and number of clinically significant falls; fall-related hospitalization and mortality; physical activity; quality of life; fragility fracture-related costs; admission to a long term care facility; participants' perceptions of care integration, expectations and satisfaction with the program; and participants' compliance with the fall prevention program. Finally, professionals at intervention sites will participate in focus groups to identify barriers and facilitating factors for the integrated fragility fracture prevention program. This integrated program will facilitate knowledge translation and dissemination via the following: involvement of various collaborators during the development and set-up of the integrated program; distribution of pamphlets about osteoporosis and fall prevention strategies to primary care physicians in the intervention group and patients in the control group; participation in evaluation activities; and eventual dissemination of study results. Study/trial registration: Clinical Trial.Gov NCT01745068 Study ID number: CIHR grant # 267395 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragility fractures are common, affecting almost one in two older women and one in three older men. Every fragility fracture signals increased risk of future fractures as well as risk of premature mortality. Despite the major health care impact worldwide, currently there are few systems in place to identify and 'capture' individuals after a fragility fracture to ensure appropriate assessment and treatment (according to national guidelines) to reduce future fracture risk and adverse health outcomes. The Task Force reviewed the current evidence about different systematic interventional approaches, their logical background, as well as the medical and ethical rationale. This included reviewing the evidence supporting cost-effective interventions and developing a toolkit for reducing secondary fracture incidence. This report presents this evidence for cost-effective interventions versus the human and health care costs associated with the failure to address further fractures. In particular, it summarizes the evidence for various forms of Fracture Liaison Service as the most effective intervention for secondary fracture prevention. It also summarizes the evidence that certain interventions, particularly those based on patient and/or community-focused educational approaches, are consistently, if unexpectedly, ineffective. As an international group, representing 36 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, South America, Europe, and North America, the Task Force reviewed and summarized the international data on barriers encountered in implementing risk-reduction strategies. It presents the ethical imperatives for providing quality of care in osteoporosis management. As part of an implementation strategy, it describes both the quality improvement methods best suited to transforming care and the research questions that remain outstanding. The overarching outcome of the Task Force's work has been the provision of a rational background and the scientific evidence underpinning secondary fracture prevention and stresses the utility of one form or another of a Fracture Liaison Service in achieving those quality outcomes worldwide. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients' values and preferences are fundamental tenets of evidence-based practice, yet current osteoporosis (OP) clinical guidelines pay little attention to these issues in therapeutic decision making. This may be in part due to the fact that few studies have examined the factors that influence the initial decision to take OP medication. The purpose of our study was to examine patients' experiences with the decision to take OP medication after they sustained a fracture. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted with outpatients identified in a university teaching hospital fracture clinic OP program. Individuals aged 65+ who had sustained a fragility fracture within 5 years, were 'high risk' for future fracture, and were prescribed OP medication were eligible. Analysis of interview data was guided by Giorgi's methodology. Results: 21 patients (6 males, 15 females) aged 65-88 years participated. All participants had low bone mass; 9 had OP. Fourteen patients were taking a bisphosphonate while 7 patients were taking no OP medications. For 12 participants, the decision to take OP medication occurred at the time of prescription and involved minimal contemplation (10/12 were on medication). These patients made their decision because they liked/trusted their health care provider. However, 4/10 participants in this group indicated their OP medication-taking status might change. For the remaining 9 patients, the decision was more difficult (4/9 were on medication). These patients were unconvinced by their health care provider, engaged in risk-benefit analyses using other information sources, and were concerned about side effects; 7/9 patients indicated that their OP medication-taking status might change at a later date. Conclusions: Almost half of our older patients who had sustained a fracture found the decision to take OP medication a difficult one. In general, the decision was not considered permanent. Health care providers should be aware of their potential role in patients' decisions and monitor patients' decisions over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines whether patient satisfaction can be improved by changing patients' expectations of the clinic visit by decreasing the total time spent in the clinic. Patient demographics; Contributing factors that decrease patients' satisfaction with clinic time; Mechanics of intervention strategy.

Background Prosthetic hip and knee joint infections (PJIs) are challenging to eradicate despite prosthesis removal and antibiotic therapy. There is a need to understand risk factors for PJI treatment failure in the setting of prosthesis removal. Methods A retrospective cohort of individuals who underwent prosthesis removal for a PJI at 5 hospitals in Toronto, Canada, from 2010 to 2014 was created. Treatment failure was defined as recurrent PJI, amputation, death, or chronic antibiotic suppression. Potential risk factors for treatment failure were abstracted by chart review and assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results A total of 533 individuals with prosthesis removal were followed for a median (interquartile range) of 814 (235–1530) days. A 1-stage exchange was performed in 19% (103/533), whereas a 2-stage procedure was completed in 88% (377/430). Treatment failure occurred in 24.8% (132/533) at 2 years; 53% (56/105) of recurrent PJIs were caused by a different bacterial species. At 4 years, treatment failure occurred in 36% of 1-stage and 32% of 2-stage procedures (P =.06). Characteristics associated with treatment failure included liver disease (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09–4.66), the presence of a sinus tract (aHR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12–2.10), preceding debridement with prosthesis retention (aHR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.13–2.51), a 1-stage procedure (aHR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.28–2.32), and infection due to Gram-negative bacilli (aHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04–1.76). Conclusions Failure of PJI therapy is common, and risk factors are not easily modified. Improvements in treatment paradigms are needed, along with efforts to reduce orthopedic surgical site infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]