Osteoporosis, bone & mineral

Should major trauma fractures be part of a fracture liaison service’s remit: a cost–benefit estimate

Osteoporos IntPublished Retrospective cohort study with cost estimate

Authors' conclusion

The 3-year refracture after a non-MT injury is about half (57%) that of the refracture rate after a MT injury. Extending FLS activity to non-MT patients incurs a significant additional direct cost but remains cost neutral if notional savings gained through reduction in refracture risk are taken into account.

Study context

Population
Patients aged 50 or above presenting to the John Hunter Hospital with a fracture in 2018, followed for re-presentation to any Hunter New England Health Service's (HNEHS) facility over 3 years
Exposure
Minimal trauma vs non-minimal trauma fractures
Outcome
Refracture rate
Follow-up
3 years
Methodological detailsCox proportional hazards regression, micro-costing analysis
  • Cox proportional hazards regression
  • Micro-costing analysis

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

Cost of extending fracture liaison service (FLS) activities to non-MT patients in 2022

Additional cost
$198,326 AUD
Notional loss/saving through refracture risk reduction
$ - 26,625/ + 26,913 AUD

Predictors of refracture risk

No clinically available characteristic at presentation predictive of increased refracture risk was identified

Original publication

Should major trauma fractures be part of a fracture liaison service’s remit: a cost–benefit estimate. Osteoporos Int. Published 27 May 2024. doi:10.1007/s00198-024-07134-0

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