Fragility Fracture Network

22/06/2026

FFN Orthogeriatric Care Education

Early and Continued Mobilisation After Hip Fracture:

Evidence and Interdisciplinary Practice
Educational module delivered through an interactive webinar

https://fragilityfracturenetwork.org/early-and-continued-mobilisation-after-hip-fracture-evidence-and-interdisciplinary-practice/

20/06/2026

Did you know that most osteoporosis research has focused on women? The MrOS Study followed 5,994 men aged ≥65 years for 25 years and demonstrated that low BMD is a powerful predictor of fractures in older men, highlighting the importance of osteoporosis screening beyond women.

Over 25 years, the MrOS Study identified key predictors of fractures in older men, including bone density, bone geometry, falls, muscle function, lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and biomarkers. Fracture prevention requires a comprehensive approach that goes far beyond DXA alone.

Despite major advances in fracture risk assessment, the MrOS investigators found that current prediction tools still have limitations in older men. Future research should focus on integrating imaging, biomarkers, falls, and functional measures to improve individualized fracture prevention strategies.

Read more: https://academic.oup.com/jbmr/article-abstract/41/5/474/8464186?redirectedFrom=fulltext

19/06/2026

A recent international quality improvement initiative involving six orthogeriatric centers across Europe demonstrated that simple, scalable interventions can enhance osteoporosis treatment and fall prevention after fragility fractures.
Through multidisciplinary education, patient engagement, and standardized care pathways, participating centers reported increased osteoporosis treatment initiation, established or strengthened fall-prevention services, and improved awareness among healthcare professionals and patients.
Read the article here: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41999-026-01497-9

12/06/2026

Webinar: Early and Continued Mobilisation After Hip Fracture: Evidence and Interdisciplinary Practice
Join us on June 30th for an interactive webinar exploring the evidence, clinical rationale, and practical approaches to early and continued mobilisation after hip fracture.
Learn how timely mobilisation can improve outcomes, reduce complications, support independence, and enhance recovery as part of interdisciplinary post-operative care.
📅 Two sessions available to suit different time zones
🎓 Free registration
🌍 Designed for healthcare professionals involved in hip fracture care
This webinar also marks the launch of our new online educational module, helping clinicians translate the latest evidence into everyday practice.
Register today and choose the session that works best for you.
Register for Session 1 (11 am UK time)

OR

Register for Session 2​ (5 pm UK time)

12/06/2026

What Factors Influence Early Mobility After Total Hip Replacement?
A prospective study of 71 older adults in Brazil found that only 50.7% of patients could stand and 39.4% could walk by postoperative day 3 following total hip replacement for femoral neck fractures.
The strongest predictors of delayed mobility recovery were:
• Older age
• Cognitive impairment
• Lower prefracture functional independence
Sarcopenia was also associated with slower recovery, particularly for walking, while BMI showed no significant relationship with mobility outcomes.
These findings highlight the value of assessing cognitive function, functional status, and muscle health before surgery to identify patients at risk of delayed recovery and guide targeted rehabilitation strategies.
Learn more https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/fulltext/9900/what_factors_are_associated_with_early_mobility.108.aspx

11/06/2026

🚭 New evidence from a meta-analysis of 58 international cohort studies involving over 1.69 million participants confirms that current smoking is a significant predictor of future fracture risk.
Importantly, the increased risk is only partly explained by lower bone mineral density (BMD), indicating that smoking contributes to skeletal fragility through additional mechanisms beyond bone loss.
The study also found that former smokers have a substantially lower fracture risk than current smokers, suggesting that the harmful effects of smoking on fracture risk may be at least partially reversible.
These findings strengthen the evidence supporting smoking as an independent risk factor for fracture and will help inform future updates of the FRAX fracture risk assessment tool.

Learn more

Summary In this meta-analysis of international cohorts, current smoking is confirmed as a significant BMD-independent predictor of future fracture with a stronger relationship in men than in women. A causative and reversible effect of smoking on fracture risk is suggested by past smoking having a si...

05/06/2026

A recent umbrella review, synthesising five systematic reviews including two network meta-analyses, found that combined exercise and nutritional interventions are the most effective strategy for managing sarcopenia and reducing fall risk in older adults.
The evidence showed improvements in muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, gait speed, sit-to-stand performance, and fall prevention.
Key recommendations include:
• Progressive resistance and balance training
• Optimised protein intake and adequate vitamin D
• Multidisciplinary care involving physiotherapists, dietitians, geriatricians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals
These findings reinforce the importance of integrated approaches that combine exercise, nutrition, and coordinated care to support healthy ageing, maintain function, and reduce falls.
Learn more

05/06/2026

A recent study highlights a critical evidence-to-practice gap in postoperative care for older adults with hip fractures in Brazil. Despite strong evidence supporting early mobilization, many physiotherapists are not implementing these interventions consistently.
The study identified several factors associated with better knowledge and implementation of early mobilization, including:
✅ Working within orthogeriatric teams
✅ Access to specialized rehabilitation training
✅ Lower patient caseloads
✅ Greater clinical autonomy without requiring surgeon authorization
✅ Use of mobility assessments
These findings underscore the importance of education, interdisciplinary care models, and organizational support to improve rehabilitation outcomes after hip fracture surgery.
Learn more https://journals.lww.com/jgpt/abstract/9900/_mind_the_gap___brazilian_physiotherapists_are_not.99.aspx

03/06/2026

FFN Edinburgh Congress 2026
Early Bird Registration Deadline Extended!
📅 Early Bird Deadline: 3 July
https://ffn.edinburgh2026.co.uk/

29/05/2026

Periprosthetic femur fractures (PFFs) are an emerging fragility trauma burden, increasing alongside rising arthroplasty rates and an ageing, more active population.
The SNAP Femur nationwide study highlights that PFF carries serious outcomes:
• 1-year mortality: 20.8%
• Significant post-injury loss of independence
• Morbidity and mortality comparable to hip fracture
However, PFF patients are often less frail and the injury pattern is more complex, meaning care is less standardised than hip fracture pathways. Notably, time to theatre alone was not independently linked to mortality, underscoring the importance of appropriate surgical expertise.
Call to Action: PFF should be recognised as a distinct fragility trauma entity, integrated into national audits, and supported by dedicated clinical pathways.
Read the article here: