Colles' fractures and osteoporosis--A new role for the Emergency Department.

Purpose: In Denmark, guidelines from the Danish Orthopedic Society recommend that patients older than 65 years who sustain a Colles' fracture should be referred to assessment of underlying osteoporosis. An assessment of referral rates at our hospital during the period October 2010-September 2013 showed that none were referred. Due to this, an automatic out-patient referral system for assessment of underlying osteoporosis was established.