Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
Orthopaedic Proceedings Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from Orthopaedic Proceedings

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

Visit Orthopaedic Proceedings at:

Loading...

Loading...

Full Access

HIP FRACTURE IN A YOUNG PATIENT AFTER LOW-ENERGY TRAUMA



Abstract

Purpose: To understand the epidemiology and risk factors of an osteoporotic hip fracture in a non-elderly patient.

Methods: Retrospective study covering the period 1999–2004, assessing individual and family history, fracture type, hospital stay, time until surgery, type of treatment and possible study or treatment of bone fragility.

Results: 38 cases. 23 patients (60.5%) presented some risk factor related to osteoporosis: enolism 7, liver pathology 3, neuromuscular disease 13, steroid treatment 4 and anticonvulsant 3. Seven patients (18.4%) presented some type of psychiatric disorder. Mean hospitalisation time: 13 days. Time until surgery: 3 days. Fracture type: 20 (52.6%) pertrochanteric and 16 (42.10%) subcapital. Treatment: cannulated screws in 11 cases (29%), screw and plate in 21 (55.2%). We found no diagnosis of osteoporosis or related indications in the admission reports except in one patient. Patients over 50: hip fracture incidence 161.21/100,000 inhabitants, pertrochanteric in 54.9% and subcapital in 45.1%*.

[*]

Conclusions:

  1. Hip fractures resulting from low-energy trauma are uncommon in the population under the age of 50.

  2. There are factors predisposing to bone fragility in 60.5%.

  3. The type of fracture is similar to those found in the elderly.

  4. Treatment with cannulated screws is more common in non-elderly patients (20% vs 7%*)

  5. There is not adequate consideration of the problem of osteoporosis in these patients.

The abstracts were prepared by Dr. E. Carlos Rodríguez-Merchán, Editor-in-Chief, Spanish Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (Revista de Ortopedia y Traumatología). Correspondence should be addressed to him at: Sociedad Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología (SECOT), Calle Fernández de los Ríos 108, 28015-Madrid, Spain