The purpose of this study was to establish whether men and women with a fragility hip fracture were equally investigated and treated for osteoporosis. A retrospective review was carried out including 91 patients (48 females, 43 males) who were admitted with a fragility hip fracture between March 2003 and April 2004. Data about age, sex, investigations and medication were collected from the case notes, GP surgeries and the bone densitometry database. Investigations and treatment were compared with current guideline recommendations (SIGN 2003, NICE 2005). Data were analysed using SPSS Version 13.0.Introduction
Methods
Low-energy fractures of the proximal humerus indicate osteoporosis and it is important to direct treatment to this group of patients who are at high risk of further fracture. Data were prospectively collected from 79 patients (11 men, 68 women) with a mean age of 69 years (55 to 86) with fractures of the proximal humerus in order to determine if current guidelines on the measurement of the bone mineral density at the hip and lumbar spine were adequate to stratify the risk and to guide the treatment of osteoporosis. Bone mineral density measurements were made by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the proximal femur, lumbar spine (L2-4) and contralateral distal radius, and the T-scores were generated for comparison. Data were also collected on the use of steroids, smoking, the use of alcohol, hand dominance and comorbidity. The mean T-score for the distal radius was −2.97 ( The assessment of osteoporosis must include measurement of the bone mineral density at the distal radius to avoid underestimation of osteoporosis in the upper limb.
