Incidence of fractures compared to cardiovascular disease and breast cancer: the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study

Summary  To compare the absolute risk of fracture to the risk of other conditions by race/ethnicity, we studied 83,724 women, aged 70–79. The projected number of fractures was similar to or exceeded the combined number of cardiovascular events and breast cancers. Osteoporosis prevention efforts should target women of all ethnicities. Introduction  The relative risk of fracture is lower in non-white compared to white women but the absolute risk of fracture in comparison to other common chronic conditions is uncertain. Methods  We performed a prospective cohort study of 83,724 women, age 50–79 years. Cardiovascular disease (CVD), invasive breast cancer and all fractures were identified over an average of 7.7 ± 2.6 years. Results  The incidence of fracture, breast cancer, stroke and CVD varied across ethnicity. The annualized (%) incidence of fracture was greatest in whites (2.4%) and American Indians (2.8%) and lowest among blacks (1.3%). The majority of hip fractures occurred in white women. The projected number of women who will experience a fracture in one year exceeded the combined number of women who would experience invasive breast cancer or a broad category of CVD events in all ethnic groups except blacks. In 10,000 black women, an estimated 153 women would experience CVD, and 35 women, breast cancer compared to 126 women expected to fracture in one year. Conclusion  The annual risk of suffering a fracture is substantial in women of all ethnicities. Osteoporosis prevention efforts should target all women irrespective of their race/ethnic backgrounds. This article is discussed in an editorial that is available at .     

Estrogen receptor α CA dinucleotide repeat polymorphism is associated with rate of bone loss in perimenopausal women and bone mineral density and risk of osteoporotic fractures in postmenopausal women

Summary The association between a newly identified CA repeat polymorphism of the estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) with osteoporosis was investigated. Postmenopausal women with <18 CA repeats had low BMD, increased rate of bone loss and increased fracture risk. Introduction Studies have shown that intronic dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms in some genes are associated with disease risk by modulating mRNA splicing efficiency. D6S440 is a newly identified intronic CA repeat polymorphism located downstream of the 5’-splicing site of exon 5 of ESR1. Methods The associations of D6S440 with bone mineral density (BMD), rate of bone loss and fracture risk were evaluated in 452 pre-, 110 peri- and 622 postmenopausal southern Chinese women using regression models. Results Post- but not premenopausal women with less CA repeats had lower spine and hip BMD. The number of CA repeats was linearly related to hip BMD in postmenopausal women (β = 0.008; p = 0.004). Postmenopausal women with CA repeats <18 had higher risks of having osteoporosis (BMD T-score<−2.5 at the spine: OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.30–4.65; at the hip: OR 3.79(1.64–8.74)) and low trauma fractures (OR 2.31(1.29–4.14)) than those with ≥18 repeats. Perimenopausal women with <18 CA repeats had significantly greater bone loss in 18 months at the hip than those with ≥18 repeats (−1.96% vs. −1.61%, p = 0.029). Conclusions ESR1 CA repeat polymorphism is associated with BMD variation, rate of bone loss and fracture risk, and this may be a useful genetic marker for fracture risk assessment. Funding Source: This project is supported by CRCG Grant, Bone Health Fund, Matching Grant and Osteoporosis and Endocrine Research Fund of the University of Hong Kong.     

Calcium and vitamin D intake influence bone mass,but not short-term fracture risk,in Caucasian postmenopausal women from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment (NORA) study

Summary The impact of calcium and vitamin D intake on bone density and one-year fracture risk was assessed in 76,507 postmenopausal Caucasian women. Adequate calcium with or without vitamin D significantly reduced the odds of osteoporosis but not the risk of fracture in these Caucasian women. Introduction Calcium and vitamin D intake may be important for bone health; however, studies have produced mixed results. Methods The impact of calcium and vitamin D intake on bone mineral density (BMD) and one-year fracture incidence was assessed in 76,507 postmenopausal Caucasian women who completed a dietary questionnaire that included childhood, adult, and current consumption of dairy products. Current vitamin D intake was calculated from milk, fish, supplements and sunlight exposure. BMD was measured at the forearm, finger or heel. Approximately 3 years later, 36,209 participants returned a questionnaire about new fractures. The impact of calcium and vitamin D on risk of osteoporosis and fracture was evaluated by logistic regression adjusted for multiple covariates. Results Higher lifetime calcium intake was associated with reduced odds of osteoporosis (peripheral BMD T-score ≤−2.5; OR = 0.80; 95% CI 0.72, 0.88), as was a higher current calcium (OR = 0.75; (0.68, 0.82)) or vitamin D intake (OR = 0.73; 95% CI 0.0.66, 0.81). Women reported 2,205 new osteoporosis-related fractures. The 3-year risk of any fracture combined or separately was not associated with intake of calcium or vitamin D. Conclusions Thus, higher calcium and vitamin D intakes significantly reduced the odds of osteoporosis but not the 3-year risk of fracture in these Caucasian women. Sources of support: This work was supported by grant AG1406701 from the National Institute on Aging. The National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment (NORA) was funded and managed by Merck & Co Inc.     

(v) Fractures of the adult elbow

Fractures of the elbow comprise 5% of fractures. Most are minimally displaced and can be managed conservatively. Displaced fractures or those associated with elbow dislocation are likely to require operative intervention. Displaced distal humeral fractures present a particular clinical challenge. Elbow stiffness is the most common complication and can follow seemingly innocuous/minimally displaced fractures.     

(iii) Wear in highly crosslinked polyethylenes

Because of its improved wear-resistance, crosslinked polyethylene is now regarded as a desirable technology for hip articulations. In the present review, we focus specifically on applications of crosslinked polyethylene in the hip. We begin with an overview of the basic science concepts and terminology surrounding crosslinked polyethylene and the two main thermal processing techniques, which involve either annealing or remelting the polymer after irradiative crosslinking. The second part of the review is a critical assessment of the peer-reviewed literature on the subject of femoral head penetration and wear in crosslinked polyethylenes measured in clinical studies.     

Gamma钉与DHS微创治疗老年股骨转子间骨折的前瞻性研究

目的 对应用Gamma钉和DHS微创治疗老年股骨转子间骨折患者的疗效进行分析比较.方法 对2004年1月至2006年12月收入院的58例股骨转子间骨折患者进行前瞻性随机对照研究,AO分型A1型21例,A2型37例;应用Gamma钉30例,DHS 28例.术前评价两组患者一般资料差异无统计学意义,具有可比性.分别对两组患者手术创伤、术后功能及并发症等情况进行统计学分析对比.结果 Gamma钉和DHS在切口平均长度、术后6d疼痛评分方面比较,差异无统计学意义;两者对比,DHS组的手术时间相对较短,术中平均出血量、术后引流量较少,两组差异有统计学意义.Gamma钉组的早期功能恢复优于DHS组,在骨折愈合及远期疗效方面差异无统计学意义.在并发症方面,Gamma钉固定易出现股骨骨折,DHS易出现髋内翻和内固定失败,切口感染、深静脉血栓形成及骨不连等两者差异无统计学意义.结论 老年股骨转子间骨折内固定术应遵循易操作、创伤小、并发症少的原则.A1型骨折尽可能采用DHS固定,A2型骨折若伴有明显骨质疏松,建议应用Gamma钉固定,以利于尽早开始功能锻炼,术中应尽可能减少扩髓.骨折部位在Gamma钉入点附近时建议使用DHS固定.     

PHILOS 接骨板治疗复杂肱骨干中上段骨折的初步报告

目的 评价肱骨近端内固定锁定系统(PHILOS)接骨板治疗复杂肱骨干中上段骨折的临床疗效.方法 2007年4月至2008年1月,应用PHILOS接骨板治疗复杂肱骨干中上段骨折16例,男6例,女10例;年龄54～88岁,平均71.5岁;左侧11例,右侧5例;按AO/OTA分型:CI型4例,C2型3例,C3型9例.术中记录手术总时间,PHILOS接骨板置放时间,术中出血量.采用Constant-Murley肩关节评分标准,对患者健侧、患侧肩关节进行评分,同时计算患侧评分占健侧评分的百分比,＞80%为优良.60%～80%为满意,＜60%为差.结果 手术总时间为75～160 min,平均115 min;PHILOS接骨板置放时间25～45 min,平均35 min;术中出血量为150～525 ml,平均350 ml;住院时间为17～22 d,平均18.5 d.14例患者获得随访,随访时间5～12个月,平均9.6个月.骨折愈合时间7～16周,平均12.1周.骨折端无移位,螺钉无松动、拔出及断钉,患侧肱骨头较健侧无吸收、缩小征象;患侧肩关节前届上举活动度为120°～170°,平均150°.末次随访时Constant-Murley评分平均为78.5分(62～92分);患侧评分占健侧评分的百分比为75.6%～97.6%,平均87.6%;优良12例,满意2例,优良率为85.7%.结论 应用长型PHILOS锁定加压接骨板治疗复杂肱骨干中上段骨折可获得较理想的临床疗效.     

不同髋臼骨折手术入路的选择

目的探讨采用不同手术入路治疗髋臼骨折的临床疗效。方法手术治疗髋臼骨折22例，手术入路采用Kocher—Langenbeck切口8例，Smith—Petersen切口4例，髂腹股沟切口6例，扩大的Smith—Petersen切口2例，前后联合切口2例。结果22例患者随访6～60个月（平均28个月）。根据Maria的复位标准：解剖复位15例，良3例，差4例，复位优良率为81．8％（18／22），根据Merled Aubigne的临床评定标准：解剖复位者疗效优良率为13／15，复位良者2／3，复位差者1／4。结论髋臼骨折的复位质量是决定临床手术疗效的关键，正确选择切口、正确放置钢板和置入螺钉，是提高复位质量的关键。     

CT平扫及三维重建对齿状突合并周围骨折的诊断价值

目的：探讨CT平扫及三维重建对齿状突合并周围骨折的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析在我院手术治疗的20例新鲜齿状突骨折合并周围骨折患者的X线片及CT平扫和三维重建资料。结果：20例患者术前影像学诊断齿状突合并周围骨折23处．术中另发现5例患者各有1处术前影像资料漏诊的周围骨折，合并存在的周围骨折共28处。其中单凭X线片确诊齿状突骨折5例，检出率25．0％（5/20），合并周围骨折2处，检出率7．1％（2／28）；CT平扫及三维重建确诊齿状突骨折20例，检出率100％（20／20），发现23处周围骨折，检出率82．1％（23/28）。结论：CT平扫及三维重建对齿状突合并周围骨折能作出较全面而准确的诊断，与X线片相比明显提高了骨折的检出率。建议对怀疑有齿状突合并周围骨折的患者进行CT平扫及三维重建检查。     

经皮穿针治疗掌骨颈骨折

掌骨颈骨折又称拳击者骨折（boxing-fracture），临床常见，闭合复位较容易，固定较困难。临床常用掌指关节及近指间屈曲90。位外固定法，固定时间长，患者痛苦大，易出现近指间关节功能受限，临床效果欠佳。2003年12月至2006年12月采用经皮穿针髓内固定法治疗掌骨颈骨折37例，取得了良好效果，现报告如下。