The International Osteoporosis Foundation’s (IOF) Capture the Fracture^® (CTF) programme celebrates a major milestone as it welcomes the 1000th Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) to its global network. This landmark achievement brings the CTF Global Map of Best Practice to a total of 1000 FLS in 59 countries.

Capture the Fracture^® – a globally recognized initiative driving improvement in post-fracture care

Capture the Fracture^® is a global programme, launched by IOF in 2012, to facilitate the implementation of Post-Fracture Care (PFC) Coordination Programs, such as FLS, for secondary fracture prevention. CTF brings together a large network of stakeholders, including an international Governance committee comprised of leading experts, a global network of mentors and FLS specialists, and national patient and medical societies. The initiative sets global best practice standards and offers recognition for FLS through its internationally endorsed Best Practice Framework which sets the standard for excellence in secondary fracture prevention. CTF also provides essential resources and documentation to build the case for prioritization of secondary fracture prevention and to help drive the implementation and quality improvement of FLS. 

Since 2020, the growth of the CTF Network has been accelerated by the collaboration and support of industry partners Amgen and UCB, which have provided sponsorship through the Capture the Fracture^® Partnership. This support has helped the programme thrive in its mission to address the global health burden of osteoporosis through comprehensive, top-down and bottom-up approaches to expanding secondary fracture prevention, and by aligning stakeholders at the international, national and local levels in prioritized countries across four world regions.
In 2024 to date, the CTF network has grown through the addition of an impressive 102 FLS, now identifying over 722,634 patients annually. The accelerated growth underscores the programme’s globally recognized role in secondary fracture prevention and improving post-fracture outcomes worldwide. 

IOF President Professor Nicholas Harvey expressed his pride in the initiative’s progress: 

“The Capture the Fracture^® programme has become a cornerstone of global efforts to improve post-fracture care. Together with the dedicated efforts of our IOF staff and Capture the Fracture^® governance, reaching this milestone is testament to the programme's impact and its growing importance in driving secondary fracture prevention and improved patient care for fracture patients worldwide.”

Fracture Liaison Service coverage: essential to better patient outcomes

Fracture Liaison Services are a model of specialized, coordinator-based post-fracture care that involves a multidisciplinary team dedicated to identifying fracture patients and ensuring they receive appropriate osteoporosis treatment and follow-up. This type of service is proven to reduce the risk of subsequent, often more severe, fractures, which commonly occur within the first two years after an initial fracture.

Despite the clear benefits of coordinator-based post-fracture care models, the availability of these services is vastly inadequate. In Europe, IOF’s SCOPE 2021 report showed that, across 29 European countries, eight had no FLS, and 13 had FLS in fewer than 25% of hospitals. As a result of this deficit, which is evident not only in Europe but worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 80% of patients who suffer a first fracture do not receive the necessary care to prevent further fragility fractures. Fragility fractures of the spine and hip are a major cause of chronic pain, reduced mobility, disability, increasing degree of dependence and higher mortality. 

IOF CEO Dr Philippe Halbout emphasized the need for widespread adoption of the FLS model:

“Effective post-fracture care can transform patients’ lives, preventing future fractures and supporting better recovery. We urge all hospitals treating fracture patients to establish Fracture Liaison Services and become part of our expanding network.”

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How to join the Capture the Fracture^® Network 
By joining the CTF Network, FLS benefit from recognition, resources, training, and tools. FLS are invited to apply for free assessment and recognition via the CTF website’s online Best Practice Framework (BPF) Questionnaire platform. Applying FLS are evaluated against 13 BPF standards, covering four key fragility fracture patient groups—hip fractures, other in-patient fractures, outpatient fractures, and vertebral fractures. Services receive a rating of gold, silver, bronze, or blue (for newly established services) and are invited to undergo re-evaluation annually.

After completing the online BPF Questionnaire, FLS receive:

• Recognition on the Capture the Fracture® Map of Best Practice.
• A peer-reviewed benchmark against international best practices, with insights for service improvement.
• A certificate of achievement and use of the Capture the Fracture® Best Practice Recognition logo.
• Access to a wealth of resources, tools, and a network of global experts for mentorship and support.

About IOF
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 335 patient, medical and research organizations, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide healthcare priority. http://www.osteoporosis.foundation @iofbonehealth