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Unmet need in osteoporosis
1Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle Street, Glasgow.
Objective:
To audit the management of females presenting to Accident and Emergency department with a diagnosis of low impact Colles fracture.
Design:
Telephone questionnaire of 50 patients who attended A & E in 1998 with diagnosis of Colles fracture
Setting:
Glasgow Royal Infirmary within North Glasgow catchment area.
Subjects:
Women between 45-79 years of age who attended Accident and Emergency Department in 1998 with a diagnosis of low impact Colles fracture.
Results:
Mean age was 63 years (range 44-78): ninety percent were post menopausal and 40% of the total group were smokers. Twenty six percent had a positive family history of osteoporosis, 24% had undergone hysterectomy and 88% took no part in any load bearing exercise. Ten percent (n = 5) were on treatment (1 alendronate, 3 etidronate with calcium, 1 hormone replacement therapy)
Conclusion:
A significant proportion of our study population have multiple risk factors for osteoporosis which are not being addressed. Raising awareness in orthopaedic surgeons, family doctors and patients is urgently required.