ARE TRAUMATOLOGISTS TREATING OSTEOPOROSIS TO PREVENT NEW FRACTURES IN BRAZIL

Aim: To evaluate the proportion of traumatologists who investigate osteoporosis in elderly patients with fractures and recommend secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Methods: We distributed questionnaires to 244 physicians attending the 2015 Brazilian Congress of Orthopedic Trauma. We determined the profile of them and assessed how the respondents investigate and treat osteoporosis in elderly patients with fractures. Results: Overall, 32% reported that their knowledge level regarding osteoporosis would be somewhat between 0–5 (out of 0–10). In total, 42% of the participants reported that they usually request DXA for elderly patients with fractures, and less than 30% reported prescribing supplemental calcium and/or vitamin D. We considered as conducting a complete treatment of the patient given as example those physicians who in addition to requesting DXA, prescribing supplemental calcium, vitamin D and specific medications for their elderly patients, and recommending non-pharmacological measures. Only 0.8% of the participants fulfilled all these criteria. Also, 47% of the traumatologists reported that they do not treat osteoporosis but instead, refer osteoporotic patients to a qualified physician. Conclusion: Less than 50% of the traumatologists surveyed investigate and perform secondary prevention against osteoporotic fractures after treating an elderly patient with a fracture.