Abstract
We studied the histomorphometry of the trabecular bone of 19 black men and 15 black women over the age of 60 years who had sustained fractured neck of femur (FNF) as a result of minor trauma. The findings were correlated with indicators of iron overload (ferritin and vitamin C).
A striking feature was the presence of iron granules in the bone marrow of 16 of the men and nine of the women, together with fibrosis. Present in large numbers, the granules were quantitated. There were significantly more iron granules in the men than in the women (p =0.05). Ferritin levels were higher in those patients with large numbers of granules than in those with few or no granules. There was no clear correlation with the indicators, bone formation or resorption.
We concluded that iron overload is a strong aetiological factor in black male FNF patients. In postmenopausal female FNF patients, the possible aetiological role of iron overload is complicated by hormone deficiency.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor M. B. E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 South Africa
