The Australian National SOS Fracture Alliance unites 43 medical, allied health, patient advocacy, carer and other organisations under its umbrella. The more than 3 million members have one common goal – to ‘make the first break the last’ by improving the care of patients presenting with an osteoporotic fracture. This is the first time in Australia an alliance of organisations has formed to address this public health issue across the nation.

 

The overwhelming majority of patients who sustain an osteoporotic fracture receive no investigation, nor treatment to prevent further fractures. Comparatively, Australia has one of the world’s poorest rates of identifying and managing osteoporotic fractures  – some 70 to 80 per cent of men and women who have broken a bone and would qualify for osteoporosis treatment are not investigated or diagnosed, nor do they receive appropriate medical care and follow-up. As a result the numbers of preventable fractures impacting patients, their families and the healthcare system are steadily growing. The SOS Fracture Alliance is working to close this unacceptable gap in osteoporosis care, which greatly affects some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

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The SOS Fracture Alliance advocates for the nation-wide implementation of fracture liaison services in hospitals and primary care to achieve better patient outcomes and prevent fractures. Founder and Chair of the SOS Fracture Alliance, Professor Markus Seibel says “The SOS Fracture Alliance is seeking to increase the recognition, nation-wide, of first fractures in people with undiagnosed osteoporosis, to make their first break their last. This is why the SOS Fracture Alliance strongly advocates the implementation of routine services that identify, investigate and treat patients with osteoporotic fractures.”

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