$Healing tree growing from bone landscape, symbolizing fracture prevention and care.$

Bridging the Bone Gap: How a Fracture Prevention Service Can Keep You Strong

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness July 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a simple in-hospital program can significantly reduce your risk of future fractures and improve long-term bone health."

As we get older, our bones can become more fragile, leading to osteoporotic fractures. In Italy alone, 90,000 hip fractures occur each year in people over 50, and similar trends are seen worldwide. Unfortunately, many individuals don't receive the necessary follow-up care to prevent future fractures, creating a significant healthcare gap.

A fragility fracture at the hip is especially serious, increasing the risk of disability and even death. While treatments exist to reduce fracture risk, studies show that a surprisingly large number of people who've already had a fracture aren't receiving them. This is where a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) can make a real difference.

This article explores how a tailored, in-hospital FPS can effectively bridge the osteoporosis care gap, helping those at high risk of future fractures receive the treatment and support they need. We'll break down the key components of an FPS and how it can improve long-term bone health.

What is a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS)?

Healing tree growing from bone landscape, symbolizing fracture prevention and care.

An FPS is a multidisciplinary, collaborative team that includes orthopedic surgeons, geriatricians, physical therapists, nurses, and general practitioners. This team works together to ensure you receive the necessary care to prevent future fractures.

The FPS focuses on:

Identifying individuals at high risk of future fractures.
Assessing your bone health through bone mineral density (BMD) testing and blood work.
Providing appropriate treatment, including medication and lifestyle recommendations.
Connecting you with outpatient primary care physicians for ongoing care.

A study in a teaching hospital evaluated the effectiveness of an FPS program. The results showed that implementing an FPS significantly increased the number of hip-fractured persons who received BMD testing, specific pharmacological treatments, and appointments for evaluation at a fall and fracture clinic.

The Bottom Line: Taking Control of Your Bone Health

The study clearly shows that an FPS is an effective way to improve the identification and management of older adults at high risk for fragility fractures. By optimizing clinical management and increasing adherence to prescriptions, an FPS can help you take control of your bone health and reduce your risk of future fractures.

While the study had some limitations, including being an observational pre-/post-intervention design, the results are promising. The increase in therapeutic and diagnostic antifracture recommendations suggests that coordinated systems of care can make a real difference in patient outcomes.

If you're concerned about your bone health or have experienced a fracture, talk to your doctor about whether an FPS is right for you. Taking proactive steps to protect your bones can help you stay strong and independent for years to come.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2147/cia.s76695, Alternate LINK

Title: Fracture Prevention Service To Bridge The Osteoporosis Care Gap

Subject: Geriatrics and Gerontology

Journal: Clinical Interventions in Aging

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Marta Baroni, Elena Zampi, Giuseppe Rinonapoli, Rocco Serra, Elisa Zengarini, Giuliana Duranti, Sara Ercolani, Francesco Conti, Auro Caraffa, Patrizia Mecocci, Maria Luisa Brandi, Gregorio Baglioni, Carmelinda Ruggiero

Published: 2015-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) and who is involved?

A Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) is a multidisciplinary team, typically found within a hospital setting, composed of specialists such as orthopedic surgeons, geriatricians, physical therapists, nurses, and general practitioners. This team collaborates to identify individuals at high risk of future fractures, assess their bone health, provide appropriate treatment, and connect them with outpatient primary care physicians for ongoing care. The goal of an FPS is to bridge the osteoporosis care gap and improve long-term bone health.

What are the primary focus areas of a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) and how do they work to prevent future fractures?

The Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) focuses on several key areas to reduce the risk of future fractures. These include identifying individuals at high risk, assessing bone health through Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing and blood work, providing treatment through medication and lifestyle recommendations, and connecting patients with primary care physicians for continuous management. Without these interventions, individuals may not receive the necessary follow-up care to prevent subsequent fractures.

Why are osteoporotic fractures such a significant concern, and how does a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) address these risks?

Osteoporotic fractures, particularly hip fractures, are a major concern because they significantly increase the risk of disability and even death, especially in older adults. In Italy, for instance, 90,000 hip fractures occur annually in people over 50. A Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) addresses this by ensuring individuals receive treatments to reduce fracture risk, optimizing clinical management, and increasing adherence to prescriptions, thereby helping individuals take control of their bone health and minimize their risk of future fractures.

How does a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) enhance bone health management, and what evidence supports its effectiveness?

A Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) improves bone health management by optimizing clinical management and increasing adherence to prescriptions. A study showed that implementing an FPS significantly increased the number of hip-fractured persons who received Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing, specific pharmacological treatments, and appointments for evaluation at a fall and fracture clinic. This proactive approach ensures that those at high risk receive the treatment and support needed to prevent future fractures, effectively bridging the osteoporosis care gap.

What kind of care should one expect from a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) after a fracture, and what happens if such a service is not available?

If someone experiences a fracture and is identified as being at high risk, a Fracture Prevention Service (FPS) provides comprehensive care that includes bone mineral density (BMD) testing, appropriate medication, and lifestyle recommendations. It also connects individuals with outpatient primary care physicians for ongoing care. Without such a service, many people may not receive the necessary follow-up, increasing their risk of subsequent fractures and highlighting the critical role the FPS plays in long-term bone health.