Fracture Liaison Services

Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) are a specialised care team designed to ensure that all patients aged 50 years or older who present with a fragility fracture receive comprehensive care aimed at preventing future fractures. The primary objectives of an FLS include conducting thorough fracture risk assessments, ensuring adherence to national clinical guidelines for osteoporosis treatment, and addressing falls risk through referrals to appropriate prevention services. As a specialist service, FLS recommendations are based on comprehensive evaluations, eliminating the need to repeat investigations.

A Fracture Liaison Service (FLS) is a specialist service that performs a comprehensive bone health assessment for patients with fragility fractures. FLS provides evidence-based treatment recommendations designed to prevent future fractures.

FLS in New Zealand are benchmarked nationally and internationally, aligning with the second edition of the Clinical Standards for FLS in New Zealand and the International Osteoporosis Foundation Capture the Fracture® Best Practice Framework. Participation in the Australian and New Zealand Fragility Fracture Registry (ANZFFR) enables FLS to benchmark the care they provide against the Clinical Standards in real time.

The “Refracture Tracker” on the ANZFFR alerts FLS Teams when their patients present with a secondary fracture, enabling timely care adjustments. This tool also provides essential data on FLS effectiveness, valuable for government funding decisions.

Osteoporosis New Zealand’s vision is for all fragility fracture patients in New Zealand to have access to world-class FLS will soon be within reach.