Expert Roundtables

The Spinal Exchange Program Advisory Group is working with the Office for Science and Medical Research to identify activities related to spinal cord injury that would benefit from overseas Visiting Fellows. A series of Expert Roundtables have been convened to identify key clinical issues and activities of relevance to the Fellowships. The Roundtables provide a targeted consultation process to ensure that the priorities for the Program are shaped by the leading clinical and research expertise and consumer and carer views.

Why Osteoporosis?

It is generally recognised that osteoporosis presents as a decline in bone (strength) with an attendant risk for pathological fracture. The prevention and management of postmenopausal and age-related osteoporosis (i) has clear best practice guidelines. However management in the spinal cord injured population are less clear and not as extensively studied.

There are many gaps in knowledge related to interactions between bone metabolism and spinal cord injury. There are no estimates for the risk of fractures across the lifespan for people with a disability.

Osteoporosis Expert Roundtable

The first Expert Roundtable was held on Osteoporosis on 25 February 2005. A background paper was prepared to inform the Roundtable discussion, and to highlight the aims of the Expert Roundtable, which were to:
• Identify key clinical issues and activities for Visiting Fellowships; and
• Identify existing work in osteoporosis, including all interstate collaborations.  

The Expert Roundtable was well attended with participation from around Australia. Discussions at the Expert Roundtable centred on identifying current research efforts, including Australian collaborations, and on the key contributions from Visiting Fellows.

Several issues relevant to clinical care and research were identified that could be addressed. The Roundtable suggested that specific projects that would be most relevant to the needs of people living with spinal cord injury in NSW were:

• Standardisation of bone density/mass measurement and assessment protocols.
• Increased precision in predicting the rate of bone loss through bone cell markers and;
• Evaluation of the use of biomechanical interventions for protecting bone strength and quality.

The next round of the Spinal Exchange Program will aim to attract Visiting Fellows that would promote sharing of unique skills from international experts; contribute to the ongoing dialogue between Australian clinicians and researchers and their international counterparts; and contribute to better clinical practice that improves the health and wellbeing of people with spinal cord injury in NSW.

(i) Sambrook PN, Seeman E, Phillips SR, Ebeling PR. Preventing osteoporosis: Outcomes of the Australian Fracture Prevention Summit  MJA, 176, S1-15, 2002