PAPER 152: ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS AS KEY PLAYERS TO REDUCE THE HEALTH CARE GAP IN OSTEOPOROSIS

Abstract

Purpose: Only 20% of women presenting with fragility fracture are subsequently investigated for Osteoporosis (OP). Blurred lines of responsibility between the orthopedic surgeons (OS) and the general practitioners may partly explain this situation. OPTIMUS is a 3 year health management program, lead by an OS and a rheumatologist, whose objective is to improve the rate of initiation of and persistence on treatment of OP in patients sustaining a fragility fracture visiting an OS at the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke.

Method: All outpatients aged 50 years and older in which a fragility fracture is suspected by the OS are informed by a nurse practitioner about the OPTIMUS program. The first 200 patients seen at the Hôtel-Dieu site of the CHUS represent the control group. Inpatients with hip fragility fracture are evaluated by a rheumatologist. After signed consent, outpatient participants are randomized to one out of two intervention groups: The Minimal Intervention group includes nurse counseling and written general information transmitted to both patient and treating physician. Same information is given in the Intensive Intervention group. Blood tests and osteodensitometry are also performed and results transmitted to the treating physician along with personalized guidelines for treatment of the patient’s OP. In both interventions, patients are reached by phone at fixed intervals. Additional rounds of intervention are repeated as needed to increase the rates and persistence of appropriate treatment.

Results: Over the first 6 months, the OS team identified 300 patients, 30% of which suffered from hip fracture. Acceptance rates to OPTIMUS management program were close to 95% with direct contact as compared to 50% with delayed phone contact. 5% of outpatients could not name a treating physician and thus had to be seen in rheumatology. The results during the first 18 months of the project will assess the feasibility of OPTIMUS’ interventions.

Conclusion: There is a substantial care gap in the management of OP, despite the availability of diagnostic modalities and effective treatment. Involving orthopedic surgeons as key leaders of a multidisciplinary team implementing a systematic approach to identify patient with OP should help to close this care gap.