A Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is effective for improving the care gap in preventing secondary fracture among the elderly with a fragility fracture. This CME module expands upon a step-by-step approach to starting an FLS.

The size of the ageing population in South Africa continues to increase and it is expected that the current care gap in morbidity and mortality associated with fragility fractures will also have an impact on healthcare costs.  

Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a recognised model that is effective for improving prevention of secondary fracture, including treatment of osteoporosis and falls assessment.

This CME module expands upon the core principles underpinning an FLS, the challenges and opportunities that may be encountered, and provides a step-by-step framework for starting an FLS.

• The impact of fragility fractures on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs
• An understanding of the aims and benefits of a Fracture Liaison Service (FLS)
• The challenges and opportunities that may be encountered while setting up an FLS
• Core principles of setting up an FLS.

Key learnings:

• With regard to secondary fracture prevention in RSA, there is currently a big care gap
• A FLS is a recognised model that is effective for closing this care gap 
• A step-by-step approach for starting an FLS

Dr Kassim Javaid
Associate Professor, University Lecturer in Metabolic Bone Disease.

Dr Javaid studied medicine at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School and did his house jobs in London. He then finished a three-year SHO rotation in medicine at Southampton General Hospital followed by 8 months as a registrar before starting at the MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit in October 2000.

His research areas are in epidemiology and adult metabolic bone disease focusing on vitamin D, osteoporosis, secondary fracture prevention and rare bone diseases.