Results of non-operative treatment following hip fracture compared to surgical intervention

We followed all consecutive hip fracture patients admitted between 2004 and 2006, identified cases in which the intention was to treat non-operative and compared their functional outcome and mortality with a similar cohort treated surgically over the same period. We recorded length of hospital stay, place of discharge, pre and post-fracture mobility and residence, 30 days and 1 year mortality, re-admission due to same fracture and delayed surgery. The group treated surgically was recruited and matched for age, gender, pre and post-fracture mobility, mental confusion and independence. 25 patients were treated non-operative. 22 patients treated surgically over the same time period matched the patient characteristics of the non-operative arm. The mean hospital stay was 13 days in both groups. There were 4 extra-capsular fractures (3 displaced) and 21 intra-capsular fractures (5 displaced) in the non-operative arm and 11 extra-capsular fractures and 9 intra-capsular fractures in the surgically treated arm. 4 patients from the non-operative treatment group underwent late surgery because of persisting hip pain 20 days-2 months after the index event (2 cannulated screws, 1 hemiarthroplasty, 1 total hip arthroplasty). 11 patients in the surgical treatment arm underwent dynamic screw fixation, 1 had cannulated screw, 1 had total hip replacement and 7 had hemiarthroplasty. 14 of the non-operative treated patients were mobile independently or with aid before fracture but only 9 patients retained their pre-fracture mobility following treatment, compared to 16 patients pre-fracture and 11 patients post-fracture after surgery. 16 patients treated non-operative were living independently prior to injury but only 7 went back to their own residence. Of the operatively treated patients 14 patients were living independently and 10 patients went back to their previous residence. 1 month and 1 year mortality in the non-operative treated group was 4/21 and 7/21 respectively compared to 1/20 and 5/20 in the operative fixation group. There was no statistically significant difference in mobility, residence or mortality between the two groups (Fisher exact test, p > 0.05). Non-operative management after hip fracture is suitable for medically unfit patients and does not result in statistically significant difference in functional outcome or mortality compared to patients treated surgically.     

Safety and reliability of external fixation for basicervical and intertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients

Forty elderly patients with basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures were managed with uniplanar AO external fixator under regional anaesthetic block of the femoral nerve and lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh from April 2003 to March 2006. The mean age of the patients was 67.9 ± 5.5 years. External fixator application was performed under radiological control after closed reduction had been obtained. Comorbid factors, duration of surgery, duration of hospitalisation, complications, walking ability, time to union and mortality rate were recorded. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 12 ± 4.5 months. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 13 patients, healing in varus >10° and with shortening >2 cm occurred in six patients, and one patient suffered a spontaneous ipsilateral femoral neck fracture after removal of the fixator. The mean time for union was 10.4 ± 1.2 weeks. Rapid union rate and minor complications obtained in the present study are comparable to those obtained with standard internal fixation techniques. Minimal intraoperative blood loss, short operative time and early patient mobilisation are advantages signifying uniplanar external fixator application under regional anaesthetic block to be a viable option in treatment of basicervical and pertrochanteric fractures in high-risk elderly patients.     

Factors associated with mortality and functional disability after hip fracture: an inception cohort study

Hip fracture results in excess mortality and functional disability. This study sought to identify predictors of mortality and limited functional ability 1 year after hip fracture. We conducted a 1-year follow-up of a prospective population-based inception cohort of 218 hip fracture patients who had been consecutively admitted and discharged from hospital during the previous year. Mortality was observed to be independently associated with poor mental status (relative risk [RR]=6.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.73–28.00), prefracture limited functional ability (RR=4.35; 95% CI, 1.32–14.36), institutionalized disposition at discharge (RR=2.92; 95% CI, 1.02–8.38), and male gender (RR=2.44; 95% CI, 1.01–5.93). Independent predictors of limited functional ability were prefracture functional disability (RR=34.14; 95% CI, 3.13–372.33), poor mental status (RR=9.71; 95% CI, 1.57–59.82), age >80 years (RR=4.03; 95% CI, 1.48–11.00), and female gender (RR=3.57; 95% CI, 0.08–0.98). On discharge, special attention and care should thus be given to all patients displaying any of the above predictive factors.     

TSS and traditional surgery in hip and knee replacement

Surgery passes through a continuous evolution, thanks to the introduction of new technologies and techniques. Tissue-sparing surgery is a concept introduced in the last years to address prosthetic surgery to a more conservative fashion. We discuss the TSS decalogue with a critical eye, pointing out how traditional surgery is evolving in accordance with TSS statements. Proceedings of the Consensus Conference “TSS in hip and knee replacement”, Rapallo, Italy, 22–24 June 2006     

老年新鲜股骨颈骨折治疗方法探讨

目的 探讨老年新鲜股骨颈骨折的术式选择。方法 回顾性分析217例60岁以上新鲜股骨颈骨折，分别采用单钉固定(46例)、多针固定(37例)、AO空心钉固定(79例)、人工髋关节置换(55例)4种方法，对比骨折愈合率、股骨头坏死率、髋关节功能恢复优良率。结果 内固定组骨折愈合率83．3％(140／162)，股骨头坏死率19．1％(31／162)，髋关节功能优良率75．9％(123／162)。其中空心钉组骨折愈合率94．9％(75／79)，股骨头坏死率6．3％(5／79)，髋关节功能优良率91.1％(72／79)。人工关节组髋关节功能优良率89．1％(49／55)。结论 内固定手术对老年新鲜股骨颈骨折有意义，AO空心钉固定操作简单，骨折愈合率高，可作首选内固定。人工髋关节置换应严格掌握适应证。     

发育性髋脱位的影像学研究进展

发育性髋脱位是一种常见的小儿骨科疾病。临床表现较隐匿,影像学检查对其诊断有重要价值。本文对X线、造影、超声、CT、MRI等影像检查方法对发育性髋脱位的诊断应用进行综述,探讨各种方法的优缺点及对发育性髋脱位的诊断价值。     

中国农村人群骨折基本情况分析

调查了中国≥50岁中老年农村人群20岁以后的骨折发生情况。共计8266人,骨折率为6.42%;其中男性3771人,骨折率为7.48%;女性4495人,骨折率为5.54%。男性显著高于女性(P<0.01)。同时分析了不同部位的骨折发生情况,其中髋部骨折率为0.68%。骨折与跌跤发生因素密切相关,为此本研究还阐述了最近一年中人群跌倒情况,其跌倒率为11.13%。其结果为人群骨折的预防提供了科学依据。     

Importance of Albumin, 25(OH)-Vitamin D and IGFBP-3 as Risk Factors in Elderly Women and Men with Hip Fracture

The relative importance of vitamin D deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism, nutritional deficiency and low bone mineral density (BMD) as risk factors for hip fracture is not definitely established. In the framework of a case-control study of risk factors for hip fractured, biochemical markers of bone metabolism and nutrition and femoral BMD data were compared in 136 female and 43 male hip fracture patients, 126 female and 44 male age-matched hospitalized controls, and 47 healthy elderly women (8 men). Patients with hip fracture had lower albumin (−10%9 and 25(OH)-vitamin D (25(OH)D; −19%) compared with hospitalized controls, and lower albumin (−28%) and 25(OH)D levels (−52%) compared with the elderly controls. Serum values of IGFBP-3 were also significantly lower (−33%) in hip fracture patients than in community controls. BMD of femoral neck was lower (p < 0.001) in patients than in hospitalized and community controls. In hip fracture patients, parathyroid hormone (PTH) correlated weakly with BMD (neck: r = −0.19, trochanter: r = −0.17; both p < 0.05). When all women were pooled (n = 233), albumin correlated significantly (age-adjusted) with BMD at all sites (neck: r = 0.27, trochanter: r = 0.25; all p < 0.001). Albumin, but not 25(OH)D, also correlated with skinfold thickness (r = 0.19, p < 0.0025) and with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.14, p < 0.05). Male patients with hip fracture had lower BMD and albumin (both p < 0.001), 25(OH)D (p = 0.02) and IGFBP-3 levels (p <: 0.005) compared with the controls. When male patients and controls were pooled together, albumin, skinfold thickness and BMI were significantly correlated with each other, but not with BMD. IGFBP-3 was highly correlated with albumin (p < 0.0001), 25(OH)D (p < 0.005) and, less significantly, with PTH (p < 0.05), but not with BMI or skinfold thickness. IGFBP-3 was significantly correlated with BMD at all sites (neck: r = 0.27, p < 0.05); trochanter: r = 0.40, p < 0.0005). In conclusion, low albumin and low BMD were both important risk factors for hip fracture. Low serum albumin was the strongest independent variable correlated with hip fractures. In men, IGFBP-3 was correlated with BMD. The femoral BMD depended only weakly on PTH and 25(OH)D, but was correlated at all sites with albumin, a non-specific parameter of nutrition and general health.     

胚胎颅骨骨膜移植修复髋关节软骨大面积缺损

１９９０年５月～１９９４年４月，对４２例（４７个髋）关节软骨全厚缺损患者采用冷冻保存胚胎颅骨骨膜移植进行修复，其中１４例股骨头骨质Ⅳ期坏死者，同时施行带旋髂深血管蒂髂骨植骨。对３４例（３８个髋）进行了２年～６年（平均４０个月）随访。结果表明，按照吴之康髋关节人工置换术后疗效评定标准，优良２５例，很好５例，好３例，尚可１例。认为，与自体移植物修复关节软骨大面积缺损相比，这种方法无附加损伤，具有移植材料、形态与股骨头相似等特点，是治疗髋关节软骨大面积缺损的一种有效方法。