Break the worldwide fragility fracture cycle
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has developed Capture the Fracture®, a global program to facilitate the implementation of Post-Fracture Care (PFC) Coordination Program, such as Fracture Liaison Services (FLS), for secondary fracture prevention.
The Capture the Fracture® initiative guides healthcare systems in implementing their own FLS and provides a platform for the global exchange of existing projects and resources on FLS and local implementation strategies.
The implementation of FLS is the single most important thing that can be done to directly improve patient care and reduce spiralling fracture-related healthcare costs worldwide.
This website highlights successful models of care that have been developed throughout the world and provides a comprehensive collection of resources to support those wishing to develop an effective FLS.
"Worldwide, there is a large care gap that is leaving millions of fracture patients at serious risk of future fractures. ‘Capture the Fracture’ hopes to close this gap and make secondary fracture prevention a reality."
A common disease
It is estimated that worldwide, a fragility fracture occurs every three seconds.
One fracture leads to another
Having suffered a prior fragility fracture almost doubles a patient’s future fracture risk.
Fractures are warning signs
Half of patients presenting with hip fractures have suffered a prior fracture.
We fail to ‘capture’ the first fracture
The majority of fragility fracture patients are neither assessed, nor treated by their health care system to reduce fracture risk.
The care gap
To achieve a significant reduction in future fracture rates and resulting healthcare costs, healthcare systems must target those patients who have already suffered a fracture, as they are the ones at highest risk for future fractures.
A growing body of evidence from many countries shows that Post-Fracture Care Programs – a coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to patient care – offer the most clinically and cost-effective secondary preventive care .
Capture the Fracture supports this systematic approach to secondary fracture prevention because it has been demonstrated to result in fewer fractures and significant cost savings for healthcare systems.
The IOF Fracture Working group has published an important review outlining the evidence:
Capture the Fracture® is a registered trademark of IOF.
In 2020, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Capture the Fracture® Campaign with the Fragility Fracture Network (FFN) and National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) published eleven patient-level key performance indicators (KPIs) for fracture liaison services (FLSs) to guide quality improvement.
A patient-level key performance indicator set to measure the effectiveness of fracture liaison services and guide quality improvement: a position paper of the IOF Capture the Fracture Working Group, National Osteoporosis Foundation and Fragility Fracture Network. Javaid MK, Sami A, Lems W, Mitchell P, Thomas T, Singer A, Speerin R, Fujita M, Pierroz DD, Akesson K, Halbout P, Ferrari S, Cooper C. Osteoporos Int. 2020 Jul;31(7):1193-1204. doi: 10.1007/s00198-020-05377-1. Epub 2020 Apr 8. PMID: 32266437; PMCID: PMC7280347.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32266437/
To ensure that each and every patient presenting with a fragility fracture can receive the secondary preventive care they need, Capture the Fracture aims to:
SET INTERNATIONALLY ENDORSED STANDARDS FOR BEST PRACTICE
Best Practice Framework
Reference our internationally endorsed framework outlining “best practice” for secondary fracture prevention that can be adapted to diverse healthcare systems around the world.
Global recognition
Put the Best Practice Framework into action and submit your PFC Coordination Program for IOF approved, Capture the Fracture Best Practice Recognition in celebration of your achievements in accordance with the Best Practice Framework.
Interactive Maps
Highlight the work of your organization onto a global platform. PFC Coordination Programs receiving Capture the Fracture Best Practice Recognition are plotted on our interactive map, showcasing their systems and providing examples that can facilitate the success of future programs.
Mentorship program
Volunteer to be a mentor/mentee and help developing systems create their own program for secondary fracture prevention.
Implementation guides & toolkits
Access online, national toolkits in country and language specific format for guidance in developing coordinator-based, post-fracture program.
Interactive website
Interact with our Resource Center that serves as a primary resource on secondary fracture prevention for the international community.
Surveys, literature & epidemiology
Visit the repository for research publications supporting the development of Post-Fracture Care Programs.
International coalition of partners
Join our international coalition to provide consensus on effective models of care for the prevention of secondary fractures.
About osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, which literally means porous bone, is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture greatly increases. The loss of bone occurs silently and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs.
Our bones are living tissue and constantly changing. From the moment of birth until young adulthood, bones are developing and strengthening. Our bones are at their most dense in our early 20s – called peak bone mass. See more detailed information about Bone Biology
As we age some of our bone cells begin to dissolve bone matrix (resorption), while new bone cells deposit osteoid (formation). This process is known as remodeling.
For people with osteoporosis, bone loss outpaces the growth of new bone. Bones become porous, brittle and prone to fracture. For more detailed information see Pathophysiology: Biological Causes of Osteoporosis.
Around the world, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men aged 50 and over will suffer a fragility fracture during their lifetime. In fact, a fragility fracture is estimated to occur every 3 seconds. The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur at the hip, spine and wrist. The likelihood of these fractures occurring particularly at the hip and spine increases with age in both women and men.
Of particular concern are vertebral (spinal) and hip fractures. Vertebral fractures can result in serious consequences, including loss of height, intense back pain and deformity (sometimes called Dowager's Hump). A hip fracture often requires surgery and may result in loss of independence or death.
The good news is there are many steps that can be taken to prevent and diagnose osteoporosis. It's now a largely treatable condition and, with a combination of lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment, many fractures can be avoided.