The Effects of Home Exercise in Older Women With Vertebral Fractures: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Regular exercise is advocated in osteoporosis guidelines to prevent fractures. Few studies have evaluated the effect of exercise on functional performance, posture, and other outcomes that are important to patients after vertebral fractures. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study will explore the effect of home exercise versus control on functional performance, posture, and patient-reported outcome measures. DESIGN: This study was a parallel 2-arm pilot feasibility trial with 1:1 randomization to exercise or attentional control groups. SETTING: This study took place in 5 Canadian and 2 Australian academic or community hospitals/centers. PARTICIPANTS: This study included 141 women ≥65 years of age with radiographically confirmed vertebral fractures. INTERVENTION: A physical therapist delivered exercise and behavioral counseling in 6 home visits over 8 months and monthly calls. Participants were to exercise ≥3 times weekly. Controls received equal attention. MEASUREMENTS: Functional performance, posture, quality of life, pain, and behavior-change outcomes were assessed at baseline and after 6 (questionnaires only) and 12 months. Adherence to exercise was assessed by calendar diary. All t tests examined between-group mean differences (MD) in change from baseline in intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. RESULTS: There was a small effect of exercise on 5 times sit-to-stand test versus control (MD = -1.58 [95% CI = -3.09 to -0.07], intention-to-treat; MD = -1.49 [95% CI = -3.12 to 0.16], per-protocol). There were no other major or statistically significant MDs for any other measured outcomes after follow-up. Adherence declined over time. LIMITATIONS: Treatment effects on variables may have been underestimated due to multiple comparisons and underpowered analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Our exploratory estimate of the effect of exercise on functional leg muscle strength was consistent in direction and magnitude with other trials in individuals with vertebral fractures. Declining adherence to home exercise suggests that strategies to enhance long-term adherence might be important in future confirmatory trials.

Development of fracture liaison services: What have we learned?

Due to dramatic improvements in life expectancy we are seeing a rapidly growing population of older people. Increasing frailty and susceptibility to fragility fractures are becoming pressing issues for both the individuals that suffer them as well as society, through pressures on health and social care budgets. The success of fracture liaison services, co-ordinated programmes enhancing the management of the fracture, osteoporosis, frailty and falls risk, is undisputed. To achieve optimal outcomes, however, it is important to have a standardisation of design, scope and structure of the service. Experience has taught us that by delegating responsibility for the holistic care of the patient to a trained and adequately resourced professional/team (fracture prevention practitioner) with clear standards against which benchmarking occurs, is the optimal model of delivery. Future challenges include how best to measure the success of services in imparting a reduction in fractures at a local population level as well as how to detect those patients with unmet need who do not uniformly present to health care services, such as those with vertebral fractures. The implementation of fracture liaison services however, is a clear demonstration of how collaboration between health care, social care and charity organisations, among others, has materially improved the health and well-being of the population.

Immediate intensive mobilization compared with immediate conventional mobilization for the impacted osteoporotic conservatively treated proximal humeral fracture: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: To select in a 2-year survey of proximal humerus fractures accessing the emergency department, a population of osteoporotic stable impacted fractures and to randomize them into two groups, one with an immediate intensive mobilization program and the other with an immediate conventional mobilization program. METHODS: In emergency department, patients with clinical signs of shoulder girdle fracture were submitted to standard X-ray examination and CT scan. Patients with stable (absence of metaphyseal comminution or fifth fragment) osteoporotic (cortical bone thickness lower than 6 mm) impacted (Is any part of metaphysis or head impacted into the shaft? YES/NO) proximal humerus fractures were selected for randomization in one of the two groups. Group 1: early intensive mobilization; Group 2: early conventional mobilization. Functional and radiographic assessment was recorded at 3, 6 and 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: In the considered period, 120 patients were affected by a stable impacted osteoporotic proximal humerus fracture. At the final follow-up, 36 patients in group 1 and 39 patients in group 2 were available for statistical analysis. Functional and radiographic scores were comparable, with a trend of significance in favor of group 2. No fracture in any of the group showed significant loss of reduction respect to 6 months of follow-up. 4 (10%) and 1 (2.5%) patients in groups 1 and 2 were not compliant with the rehabilitation program (p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: This randomized controlled trial showed that impacted osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures can be managed non-operatively with an early conventional rehabilitation program composed by 10 sessions of passive motion twice a week, followed by recovery of active range of motion for further 10 sessions thrice a week, while no advantage is given by a more aggressive rehabilitation regimen. Self-assisted exercises should be explained to patients to maximize the effects of the assisted program. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1, randomized controlled double-blinded trial.

Urinary incontinence and poor functional status in fragility fracture patients: an underrecognized and underappreciated association.

PURPOSE/INTRODUCTION: Urinary incontinence (UI) affects some 20 % of community-dwelling older people and 30-60 % of people in institutional care. UI is known as an independent predictor of falls, and likely impacts fracture rates. The aim of the study was to measure the prevalence of UI in a typical fragility fracture population, to evaluate the relationship of UI with functional disability in the post-acute setting. METHODS: Our study is a retrospective cross-sectional study of patients admitted to rehabilitation setting after inpatient hospital management for a fragility fracture. We included all consecutively admitted fragility fracture patients aged over 65. All patients underwent standard clinical examination and Geriatric Assessment. We assessed UI using a two-stage process with a six-item UI screening questionnaire followed by an interview. RESULTS: 1,857 (80.7 % female) patients were available for analysis, mean age was 81.7 years. UI was identified in 59.2 % of all fragility fracture patients, and was more prevalent in females. Patients suffering from UI differed significantly in almost all measured functional and cognitive tests, with increased dependency/lower ADL scores, increased rates of immobility, and higher rates of cognitive dysfunction and depression. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the high prevalence of UI in older fragility fracture patients, and the association between UI and functional impairments. The diagnostic work-up and treatment of patients should be focused on the special needs of these older patients. More efforts are needed to increase awareness about prevalence and consequences of UI among older fragility fracture patients.

A prospective model of care for breast cancer rehabilitation: bone health and arthralgias.

Musculoskeletal health can be compromised by breast cancer treatment. In particular, bone loss and arthralgias are prevalent side effects experienced by women treated with chemotherapy and/or adjuvant endocrine therapy. Bone loss leads to osteoporosis and related fractures, while arthralgias threaten quality of life and compliance to treatment. Because the processes that lead to these musculoskeletal problems are initiated when treatment begins, early identification of women who may be at higher risk of developing problems, routine monitoring of bone density and pain at certain stages of treatment, and prudent application of therapeutic interventions are key to preventing and/or minimizing musculoskeletal sequelae. Exercise may be a particularly suitable intervention strategy because of its potential to address a number of impairments; it may slow bone loss, appears to reduce joint pain in noncancer conditions, and improves other breast cancer outcomes. Research efforts continue in the areas of etiology, measurement, and treatment of bone loss and arthralgias. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the management and treatment of bone loss and arthralgias in breast cancer survivors and to present a framework for rehabilitation care to preserve musculoskeletal health in women treated for breast cancer.

Scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse arthritis--update on evaluation and treatment.

Scapholunate advanced collapse (SLAC) and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse are common patterns of wrist arthritis. Scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse is caused by trauma, whereas SLAC wrist may also result from chronic pseudogout and can appear bilaterally without a clear history of injury. Surgical treatment for SLAC wrist includes 4-corner arthrodesis, capitolunate arthrodesis, complete wrist arthrodesis, proximal row carpectomy (PRC), denervation, and radial styloidectomy. Scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse wrist has the additional surgical option of excision of the distal ununited scaphoid fragment. Controversy persists over the relative merits of PRC versus 4-corner arthrodesis and whether PRC may be performed in the setting of capitate arthritis.

Biofeedback load technique in the rehabilitation of osteoporotic patients (biomechanical analysis).

Based on a simple biomechanical analysis, available to physicians, the article recommends carrying a backpack regularly as a part of the complex rehabilitation of osteoporotic patients. Carrying a backpack in front or on the back is recommended for patients with uncomplicated osteoporosis, carrying a backpack only on the back is recommended for patients with osteporotic vertebrae fractures. The importance of carrying a backpack is based upon remove the muscular dysbalance of the trunk muscles and upon increasing the bone strength by compressive force acting upon the vertebrae and proximal femur and activating osteoblasts to osteoformation. The backpack load magnitude is differentiated--patients with vertebrae fractures put a weight up to 1 kg into the backpack, patients without vertebrae fractures up to 2 kg.

[Orthotic methods for osteoporosis and osteoporotic vertebral fracture]. / Orthesenversorgung bei Osteoporose und osteoporotischen Wirbelkörperfrakturen.

Even in times of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, braces remain an efficient option in the treatment of osteoporotic hyperkyphosis due to imminent or manifest vertebral wedging with the obligatory pain and fracture risk of adjacent vertebraes. In the same fashion, acute osteoporotic fractures with considerable backpain can be treated with an adequate orthosis besides analgetics and osteological drugs. Essential is the careful selection of the right brace for a given type of osteoporotic fracture: Overall brace-frames (Stagnara type) should be used only in highly unstable or multiple osteoporotic fractures with impact onto the spinal canal where surgery is not possible. These brace frames should be administered only for the shortest possible period (8-12 weeks) to reduce muscle atrophy and immobilization. However, in the typical stable osteoporotic wedge fracture, light weight constructions like the Jewett or Bähler-Vogt brace or - in less severe cases - dynamic braces (e.g. TorsoStretch brace or SpinoMedActive brace) should be used to minimize muscle atrophy and demineralisation. Brace treatment at its best though, can be only one step in the cascade of measures to fight demineralisation and the clinical consequences: General physiotherapy, analgetics and specific osteological drugs and minerals add essentially to the treatment.

[Medical training therapy with special consideration to osteoporosis of the spinal column]. / Medizinische Trainingstherapie unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der osteoporotischen Wirbelsäule.

Medical training therapy (MTT) plays a decisive role in maintenance and development of musculoskeletal health of humans in all phases of life. In childhood and adolescence it can contribute to the highest possible so-called peak bone mass and thus avoid or delay the appearance of osteoporosis for as long as possible, in view of increased life expectations. In young adults targeted MTT is well suited to improve performance and to maintain the maximum developed bone mass. The latter is also true for perimenopausal and postmenopausal women in whom MTT can compensate for the loss of bone mass due to hormone deficiency in comparison to those not in training. Elderly people who have possibly already suffered several fractures and who are in danger of becoming permanently dependent on external help due to increasing fragility can still improve muscle strength and mass by regular MTT even in advanced age. This will reduce or avoid the risk of falling and maintain the ability to be self-sufficient for as long as possible. In order to support this, rehabilitation measures even in-hospital, could be useful and should be especially promoted in line with the amendments to the social legislation effective from 1st April 2007 ("Rehabilitation before nursing").

[Prospective evaluation of the effects of a spinal orthosis on physical function and quality of life in women with osteoporosis]. / Prospektive Evaluation funktions- und lebensqualitätsbezogener Effekte einer Wirbelsäulenorthese bei Frauen mit Osteoporose.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the short- and intermediate-term effects of a flexible spinal orthosis on postural control, neuromuscular performance, physical activity, fall-related self-efficacy, quality of life and perceived pain in osteoporosis. METHOD: 72 postmenopausal osteoporotic women with and without vertebral fractures were randomly assigned to receive either a spinal orthosis (Thämert Osteo-Med) for 6 months or to a waiting list control. The following outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at 3- and 6-months follow-up: postural sway, maximum isometric voluntary force of the back extensors and quadriceps femoris, physical activity (IPAQ), fall-related self-efficacy (FES-I), health-related quality of life (QUALEFFO-41) and perceived pain. RESULTS: For the orthosis group, repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant increase in trunk extensors muscle strength at 3- and 6-months follow-up and self-perceived pain reduction within the 5th month of evaluation in comparison to the control group. The remaining parameters showed non-significant changes while wearing the orthosis. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the orthosis introduces neuromuscular trunk strength improvement in conjunction with pain reduction in women with spinal osteoporosis. Future research should evaluate long-term effects on habitual physical activity, fall-related fracture risk and health-related quality of life.

Tophaceous gout: an unusual cause of multiple fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Fractures occurring at the site of a tophus have rarely been described in gout. In this paper we review the occurrence, clinical features, and outcome of fractures in tophaceous gout. METHOD: A PubMed search was conducted to identify the relevant literature, following our experience with two patients who developed tophaceous fractures after minor or no trauma. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients were analysed. Eleven cases of tophaceous fracture have been reported since 1950. Common features are: known and long-standing gout with tophi; minor or absence of trauma; specific locations include seven patients with patella bone fractures. Other sites include the cervical spine in two patients, the first and fifth metatarsal, and a phalanx in one patient each, the ilium and pubic bones in one, the medial malleola, and the femoral neck in the latter case. CONCLUSIONS: Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals can contribute to bone lesions by reducing osteoblastic activity and are associated with enhanced osteoclast activity in the vicinity of tophi. Mild trauma triggers MSU crystal release from tophi, resulting in cell activation and production of cytokines and proteases. This could enhance bone erosion leading ultimately to bone fragility and fracture. Our cases exemplify a rare cause of spontaneous fracture. Gouty tophus should be considered when facing a lytic lesion with fracture.

Health-related quality of life in patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis with and without fractures in a geriatric rehabilitation department.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important aspect in the management of patients with osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to estimate differences in HRQOL in women and men with osteopenia and osteoporosis with and without a fracture history and to assess HRQOL with a generic and disease-specific instrument. METHODS: Women and men were recruited from a geriatric rehabilitation department. Osteopenia or osteoporosis was diagnosed by Dual X-Ray Energy Absorptiometry (DXA). HRQOL was evaluated with the generic SF-36 questionnaire and the quality of life questionnaire of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (QUALEFFO-41). All subjects were instructed to complete these questionnaires. The level of pain was documented with a VAS (Visual Analogue Scale). RESULTS: 173 women and 49 men at a mean age of 79.3 +/- 8.5 years were enrolled. 85 participants reported a history of vertebral or hip fractures. The QUALEFFO score was 49.8 +/- 19.2 in patients with osteopenia, but significantly higher in osteoporotic patients without fractures (mean 58.1 +/- 13.3; p < 0.05). In osteoporotic patients with a fracture history the mean QUALEFFO score was significantly higher still, i.e. 63.8 +/- 13.6 (p < 0.05). The mean SF-36 summation scores of osteopenic patients and osteoporotic patients without fractures were similar (314 +/- 117 and 312 +/- 99, respectively). Osteoporotic patients with a fracture history showed lower mean scores (276 +/- 88; p < 0.05). VAS scores did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoporosis has a considerably greater impact on HRQOL than osteopenia. Patients with a history of vertebral or hip fractures have a significantly poorer quality of life. These differences should be taken into account when prioritizing health care management.

[Economic concepts for measuring the costs of illness of osteoporosis: an international comparison]. / Okonomische Konzepte zur Erfassung der Krankheitskosten von Osteoporose: Osterreich im internationalen Vergleich.

Worldwide osteoporosis is underestimated and despite availability of effective and cost effective treatments, these are often not implemented. Apart from a demographically driven increase in disease cases, failure to implement or tardy implementation of preventive measures as well as poor treatment compliance leads to a deterioration of the health economic outcomes. This in turn causes considerable costs to the health care system and to society, through ineffective intake of medication, diminished quality of life and inability to work as well as substantial costs of rehabilitation of patients. Health economic analyses and methods are increasingly used by decision makers to set priorities and evaluate alternative treatment measures about their cost-effectiveness. In order to be able to capture the costs of illness incurred by osteoporosis, different diseases specific models and methods have been developed, such as the reference model of the IOF, an osteoporosis-specific Markov model or internationally comparable intervention thresholds. Health economists estimate that osteoporosis-related costs will double by 2050 in both Europe and the individual countries. For Europe this means an increase from 40 billion Euro in 2000 to almost 80 billion Euro in 2050. In Austria, an aggregation of the different costs of osteoporosis is not possible, due to a lack of comparability and availability of data. The international ICUROS study and the Austrian Osteoporosis Report 2007 are the first steps towards counteracting this situation.

Osteoporotic fracture of the sacrum: sacroplasty and physical medecine.

CONTEXT: Traditional treatment of sacrum osteoporotic fractures is mainly based on antalgics and rest in bed. But complications are frequent, cutaneous, respiratory, thrombotic or digestive and mortality at 1 year significant. THE AIMS: We wanted to define the interest of sacroplasty when treating osteoporotic fracture of sacrum. METHOD: We reviewed literature while studying a clinical case in an elderly patient. RESULTS: Sacroplasty was efficient at short and mean delay to control the pain due to osteoporotic sacrum fracture. Rate of complications is low in the centers mastering the procedure. CONCLUSION: Sacroplasty is of evident interest for elderly patients suffering of an osteoporotic fracture of sacrum. It reduces decubitus complications, secondary effects of antalgics and allows an early reeducation.

[Effective pain relief facilitates exercise therapy : Results of a multicenter study with controlled-release oxycodone in patients with movement pain]. / Effektive Schmerzlinderung ermöglicht Bewegungstherapie : Ergebnisse einer Multicenterstudie mit retardiertem Oxycodon bei Patienten mit Bewegungsschmerz.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and tolerability of oral controlled-release oxycodone in the therapy of musculoskeletal pain were analyzed in this observational study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 843 patients with severe to most severe pain in the musculoskeletal system were treated with controlled-released oxycodone for 4 weeks or up to a maximum of 6 months. Severity of pain, impairment in quality of life, and mobility associated with the pain were assessed before and during therapy with controlled-release oxycodone by a numerical rating scale (NRS 0-10). RESULTS: Pain intensity fell by an average of 65% within the first 4 weeks. Physical therapy was practicable in many patients only after implementation of a therapy regime with controlled-release oxycodone. Quality of life improved significantly under therapy with oxycodone, and the impairment of different aspects of life decreased by 50%. CONCLUSION: The therapy of pain of the musculoskeletal system with controlled-release oxycodone is efficient. An effective pain relief makes physical therapy practicable, reduces the impairment in different parts of life, and increases quality of life.

Results of operative treatment of hip fractures in patients over 90.

BACKGROUND: The number of people living more than 90 years is increasing. This population is at high risk of osteoporotic hip fracture and the rates of a good outcome after surgical treatment are lower than in younger patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychophysical status and survival time following hip fracture surgery in nonagenarians. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-two nonagenarian patients included in the study were assessed retrospectively using our own 16-point scale. Evaluation was made on several occasions: prior to injury, at discharge from the hospital and during a follow-up examination, at least 6 months after surgery. Medical data were obtained from medical records and from telephone information given by patients, their family members, carers or social welfare employees. Statistical analyses were performed using average point values and standard deviations. RESULTS: 48% of the operated patients died within 1-9 months after surgery. Considerable deterioration of psychophysical status following surgery was reported for 24% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Operative treatment in patients 90 years of age and over with hip fractures was associated with a good outcome, i.e. the recovery of psychophysical status comparable to that prior to the injury, only in 36% of the patients.

Nordic walking--is it suitable for patients with fractured vertebra?

This article brings the biomechanical analysis of sport--Nordic walking--for patients with osteoporotic fractured vertebrae and shows that it is suitable for them. Based on the biomechanical model of skeletal load we have developed a method of walking movement for patients, different from the method of walking movement for healthy people. And so came into being the "first sport" for patients with osteoporotic fractures. They can go for regular walks in easy terrains outdoors with friends and family, and so be liberated from social isolation. It requires only one-off financial costs of buying the poles and special footwear (Tab. 7, Fig. 3, Ref. 14). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

[Evaluation of a strategy for the management of accompanying osteoporosis after inpatient treatment of fragility fractures]. / Analyse einer poststationären Behandlungsstrategie nach osteoporose-assoziierter Fraktur.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate a strategy for the management of accompanying osteoporosis after inpatient treatment of fragility fractures. METHOD: A prospective group of patients that was treated for acute fragility fractures between 9/05 and 2/06 was informed about a concomitant osteoporosis according to the national guidelines. Standardised letters with instructions for diagnostics and therapy for osteoporosis were given to patients, members of the family and outpatient care, rehab-clinic and GPs. Between 9/04 and 2/05 a retrospective review of a control group of patients with acute fragility fractures was conducted. This group was not informed about a concomitant osteoporosis. A telephone survey of all patients for analysis of the management of osteoporosis was conducted one year after clinical treatment. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable according to numbers of patients, age, distribution between the sexes and fracture localisation. The prospective group consisted of 144 patients. 29.9 % of these patients had already sustained a fragility fracture before treatment of the current fracture. In 45.8 % (32.6 % DEXA scans, 11.8 % Q CT, 1.4 % ultrasound) of the patients diagnostics were performed. A diagnosis of osteoporosis was documented in 42.4 % of the patients, and 57.1 % of the patients received specific treatments according to the guidelines. In the control group, 28.9 % of the patients had already sustained a fragility fracture before treatment of the current fracture. In 91.1 % of the patients no diagnostics for concomitant osteoporosis after clinical treatment for the acute fracture were performed within one year after fracture treatment. CONCLUSIONS: By use of a multifaceted osteoporosis intervention, more patients received diagnostics and therapy according to the guidelines of osteoporosis after fragility fractures. Without appropriate information, more than 60 % of the high-risk-patients did not receive adequate osteoporosis management. Future research should address barriers to appropriate osteoporosis management. Because of the chronic character of the disease and the necessity of a long-term therapy, continuous medical care and information of patients with osteoporosis is necessary to prevent subsequent fractures.