Fracture liaison service
Also called: FLS, fracture prevention clinic
What it means
A fracture liaison service (FLS) is a coordinated hospital or clinic program that identifies people who've had a fragility fracture and connects them with testing and treatment to help prevent the next one.
If you've already broken a bone from a minor fall, your risk of another fracture is high, and an FLS makes sure that risk doesn't get overlooked.
A fracture liaison service, sometimes called a fracture prevention clinic, is a system set up in many hospitals to catch patients after a fragility fracture - a break from a fall from standing height or less. Instead of just treating the broken bone and sending you home, the FLS team steps in to look at the bigger picture of your bone health.
Typically, an FLS nurse or coordinator reviews your records, arranges a bone density scan (DEXA), checks relevant blood work, and screens for fall risk factors like vision problems or medications that affect balance. They may also ask about family history and lifestyle factors tied to bone strength. The goal is to figure out whether osteoporosis or another underlying condition contributed to the break.
Based on that review, the FLS connects you with the right follow-up care, which might include a referral to a doctor for medication, a physical therapy or exercise program, or falls-prevention support. Decisions about starting or changing any treatment always rest with your prescriber. The main point of an FLS is coordination - making sure nothing falls through the cracks after a fracture.
A fracture liaison service connects people who've broken a bone with testing and treatment to help prevent another fracture.
Where this leads
WordAn FLS exists because one fracture raises your odds of another. See why that risk is especially high right after your first break.
Related words
A fragility fracture is a broken bone caused by a fall or bump that normally wouldn't break a healthy bone, often at…
A DEXA scan is a low-radiation X-ray test that measures how much mineral is in your hip and spine bones, giving you…
Osteoporosis is a condition where bone breakdown outpaces bone building, causing bones to become thinner, more…
Fall risk is how likely you are to fall, and it matters because falling—not just weak bones—is the most common cause…
Rehabilitation after fracture is the structured process of healing and retraining the body after a broken bone,…
It's the higher chance of breaking another bone after you've already had one fragility fracture, especially in the…
Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
