“Capturing the first fracture to prevent another.”
A Fracture Liaison Service Team (often called an FLS) helps people, who are over 50 years of age, who have broken a bone due to a bump, fall, or stumble from a standing height. These injuries are called ‘low trauma’ or ‘fragility’ fractures.
Your doctor or specialist will fix the fracture, but an FLS will assess your bone health and help you reduce the risk of suffering another fracture, especially a devastating hip fracture. Statistically, half of the people who fracture their hips, have previously fractured something else e.g. A wrist or humerus.
If you’ve already broken a bone because of osteoporosis, the chance of breaking another bone doubles – especially in the next year. So, if you have osteoporosis, it’s essential that you’re diagnosed and treated quickly to prevent further fractures. It’s also important to avoid another fall, as you may be at more risk of breaking a bone than someone who does not have osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a silent disease, and people don’t know they have it until they break a bone. At least 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 will have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease; osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and surrounding tissue.
Falls prevention is also very important, and you will find more information regarding this under resources. You can use your ACC number to access subsidised physiotherapy sessions/plans.
“In other words, they’ll help you do the best for your bones.”
Our usual criteria is below, however, we accept patients with other fractures if appropriate.
ERMS referral (internal health system link)
Heath Pathways - Osteoporosis (internal health system link)
Contact the Fracture Liaison Service by telephone, or by using the contact form below.
Page last updated: 22 March 2024
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