Osteoporosis-associated fractures are of increasing importance in trauma surgery. The implementation of systematic diagnostics and treatment of osteoporosis during hospitalization, however, remains insufficient; therefore, a specific algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in trauma surgery patients was developed based on the German Osteology Society (Dachverband Osteologie, DVO) guidelines for osteoporosis from 2014. In a first step, the individual patient age and risk profile for osteoporosis are identified considering specific fractures indicative of osteoporosis. For these patients a questionnaire is completed which detects specific risk factors. In addition, the physical activity, risk of falls, dietary habits and the individual medication are collated as these can have a decisive influence on the subsequent therapy decisions. Prior to a specific treatment, laboratory osteoporosis tests, bone densitometry by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and if needed X-rays of the spine are carried out. For proximal femoral fractures the treatment of osteoporosis could already be indicated. With pre-existing glucocorticoid therapy, a history of previous fractures or other risk factors according to the risk questionnaire, the threshold of treatment has to be adjusted according to the table of T-scores detected by DXA. The treatment algorithm for diagnostics and treatment of osteoporosis in hospitalized trauma surgery patients can systematically and efficiently improve the identification of patients at risk. Thus, further fractures associated with osteoporosis or failure of internal fixation could be reduced in future. A prospective validation of the algorithm has already be initiated.
Keywords: Femoral fracture; Fragility fracture; Osteoporosis; T values; Treatment algorithm.