A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery assessed the knowledge gaps among some demographics of patients. Patients who suffer a fracture are at higher risk of sustaining additional fractures and are at high risk for premature death or loss of independence. However, many patients don’t connect their bone fracture to osteoarthritis.
Previous studies have shown that while osteoporosis is most common among older, Caucasian women, male patients generally have worse outcomes following a hip fracture. The lack of education could be one reason for poor outcomes, according to the report.
The study also found that:
• Patients with fragility fractures often know slightly less about osteoporosis than patients with other types of fractures.
• Being unemployed, not exercising and not knowing someone with osteoporosis is also associated with a lower level of knowledge about it.
• Patients who receive information from print newspapers or magazines are more knowledgeable about osteoporosis than those who only received information from their healthcare providers.
Read the AAOS news release about orthopedic fractures.
Read other coverage on fracture care:
– Study Finds Hip Fracture Rate Could Drop 25 percent With Aggressive Osteoporosis Prevention Plan
– AAOS: High Adverse Events for Medicare Patients After Hip Fracture Hemiarthroplasty
– Study: Fractures Keep High School Athletes Off the Field Longer
