World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, 2022 will mark 10 years since the official launch of Capture the Fracture^® (CTF), a landmark programme of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) that has served to drive progress in secondary fracture prevention worldwide. 

Since its launch, the CTF network has rapidly grown from 53 Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) in its first year, to currently 778 FLS from 51 countries.  The global programme works to promote the implementation, effectiveness and sustainability of post-fracture care coordination programmes such as FLS in all regions of the world. 

“With the number of fragility fractures rising globally due to ageing populations, Fracture Liaison Services are urgently needed to reduce secondary fractures in the most high-risk patients,” says IOF CEO Dr Philippe Halbout. 

“We are extremely proud of our Capture The Fracture^® initiative and its contribution to secondary fracture prevention. To date, we estimate that some 543,000 patients have received much-needed post-fracture care thanks to the efforts of the Fracture Liaison Services within the CTF network across the globe. This inspires us to continue and expand our efforts to facilitate the implementation of new FLSs worldwide, and to support the improvement and sustainability of existing FLSs through our educational and mentorship programmes, as well as coalition efforts.” 

An important expansion of the CTF programme occurred in 2019 with the launch of the Capture the Fracture® Partnership, an IOF initiative in partnership with Amgen and UCB, in collaboration with the University of Oxford. This first-of-its-kind initiative has helped to enhance the outreach and scope of the CTF programme in 16 target countries across four distinct regions – Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, and has been instrumental in energizing interest in FLS implementation and development. As well, the establishment of new, and support for existing, national coalitions is setting the groundwork for the prioritization of primary and secondary osteoporosis and fracture prevention at the national level.

Why is there an enormous need for post-fracture care services like FLS? Anyone who suffers a fragility fracture is at around five times greater risk of having a second fracture. Looking at it from another perspective, we know that almost half of the patients presenting with hip fractures have previously broken another bone. That first fracture was a red flag that should have prompted post-fracture care, including osteoporosis and falls prevention management that would reduce the likelihood of recurring fractures. Sadly, some 80% of fracture patients around the world are simply ‘repaired’ and sent home without the post-fracture care needed to prevent potentially devastating secondary fractures, including hip fractures which are associated with high mortality and profound disability and loss of function in survivors. 

Coordinator-based post-fracture care services such as FLSs are a proven solution. These hospital-based services systematically identify adults aged over 50 who have broken a bone, assess their risk of further fractures and ensure they receive anti-osteoporosis treatment and falls assessment. In this way, fracture patients don’t fall through the cracks, but instead are offered the long-term, multidisciplinary management needed to reduce their high risk of secondary fractures. 

Typically, an FLS team comprises fracture nurses, orthopaedists, endocrinologists, rheumatologists, gerontologists, and physiotherapists - all working together to provide vital post-fracture care for thousands upon thousands of patients worldwide. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, Capture the Fracture® has created a new video and launched a social media campaign which will spotlight FLSs within the network from all regions of the world. The campaign serves to highlight the multidisciplinary expertise and tremendous team spirit which is behind the successful operation of any FLS service (see World Osteoporosis Day FLS appreciation video). 

IOF President Professor Cyrus Cooper concludes: 

“World Osteoporosis Day is a perfect time to remind all healthcare authorities that there is a proven way to stop the devastating and costly cycle of recurring fractures. All fragility fracture patients should be screened and treated through a post-fracture care model such as a Fracture Liaison Service, which has been shown to reduce re-fracture rates and mortality, and ultimately reduces the burden of fractures on healthcare systems.”

“It is with great pride that we see the progress made under the Capture the Fracture^® umbrella in its 10 years of operation. On this occasion, we particularly thank the CTF Steering Committee members who commit their time and expertise to the programme, and we applaud all the Fracture Liaison Services teams worldwide which, through collaboration and multi-disciplinary expertise, are making a true contribution to the well-being and future independence of countless older adults worldwide.” 

For further information about FLS implementation, to learn how to apply for free assessment and recognition, and to view FLSs within the Capture the Fracture^® network visit www.capturethefracture.org 

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About Capture the Fracture® 
Capture the Fracture^® (CTF) is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The initiative hopes to drive changes at local and international levels, so that secondary fracture prevention becomes a reality. Its aim is to set global best practices for Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), while serving as a benchmark tool to which clinics and hospitals can adhere and aspire to, and receive international recognition. The CTF program has a diverse set of tools that provides essential resources and documentation to drive quality improvement in FLS; CTF also offers mentorship programs that support development of FLS at the local level. The CTF network, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022, currently includes 778 FLS in 51 countries worldwide. 
https://www.capturethefracture.org #CaptureTheFracture 

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 300 patient, medical and research societies, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide health care priority. https://www.osteoporosis.foundation @iofbonehealth

About World Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day is marked annually on October 20 to raise awareness of bone health and osteoporosis prevention. The campaign, this year under the banner of ‘Step up for bone health’, calls for individuals worldwide to action for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. 
http://www.worldosteoporosisday.org  #WorldOsteoporosisDay 

WOD Official Partners: Amgen, Sunsweet, Zuellig Pharma, Abbott, Pharmanovia, Theramex