Fracture liaison services in South Africa: Pitfalls and possible solutions

Several large meta-analyses have, over recent years, demonstrated the benefits of a fracture liaison service (FLS) in reducing morbidity and mortality related to osteoporosis.^1-4 The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) Capture the Fracture® programme provides recognition, resources, training and tools to support the implementation of coordinated multidisciplinary post-fracture models of care for the prevention of secondary fractures. Secondary fracture prevention is recognised as the single most important step in directly improving patient care and reducing spiralling fracture-related costs.⁵

You will learn:

• How a fracture liaison service (FLS) can beneficially impact medication uptake, refracture rates and mortality
• The current FLS landscape in South Africa
• Potential barriers and possible solutions to the implementation of FLSs in South Africa.

Dr Zane Stevens
Endocrinologist
Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital
Cape Town

Dr Stevens is the Specialist Physician and Endocrinologist at Cape Institute of Endocrinology. He is in endocrine private practice at Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, Cape Town, with a specific interest in diabetes, thyroid disease and osteoporosis. He was the previous Associate consultant/lecturer in the Division of Endocrinology at Stellenbosch University & UCT involved in undergraduate and postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. He is also a member of the task force for creating and publishing South African Hypothyroidism guidelines 2015. Dr Stevens is the co-author of the Insulin chapter in the 2017 SEMDSA guidelines for the management of type 2 DM and is also the co-author of the Endocrine chapter in Tropical Handbook of Medicine 5th edition. He is the executive council member of the South African National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOFSA). Specific interest in Fracture Liaison Services (FLS). He is also the South African Colleges of Medicine examiner for the sub specialization in Endocrinology & Metabolism (FCP). Dr Stevens is the founding member of the Cape Thyroid Forum MDT for thyroid cancers and combined structural/functional thyroid disease and has served on several local and international advisory boards for various pharmaceutical companies. He is currently speaks/lectures regularly at CME events in the areas of diabetes, thyroid disease and osteoporosis.