Establishing a fracture liaison service: an orthopaedic approach

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Apr 15;97(8):675-81. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00957.

Abstract

➤ Bone health evaluations should be incorporated into care pathways for fragility fractures in all patients who are fifty years of age or older.➤ A fracture liaison service (FLS) is an established and proven method to achieve recommended standards of care for fragility fractures, including intervention for osteoporosis, secondary fracture prevention, and bone health evaluation.➤ The FLS facilitates patient care by automatically including all patients with a fragility fracture within a health-care system to provide them with the intervention that they need and to prevent avoidable fracture-related complications or readmissions.➤ An FLS functions with three key personnel: the FLS coordinator (usually an advanced practice provider), a physician champion (usually an orthopaedic surgeon), and a nurse navigator.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration*
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / diagnosis
  • Osteoporotic Fractures / therapy*
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Referral and Consultation / organization & administration
  • Secondary Prevention / organization & administration
  • United States