Citation

Irving D, Hinkley J, Marquart M. Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil 2019; 10: e2151459319857555.

Affiliation

Altru Health System, Genesys Regional Medical Center, Grand Blanc, MI, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/2151459319857555

PMID

31245169

PMCID

PMC6582282

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Intertrochanteric proximal femur fractures are common injuries in the elderly. Certain patterns are considered unstable and confer increased risks. Risk factors for these patterns are not well defined. We sought to determine whether increased body mass index (BMI) was associated with increased risk of sustaining an unstable pattern intertrochanteric (IT) fracture following low-energy trauma. Materials and methods: Retrospective case review of all patients presenting to a level-2 trauma center between October 2010 and August 2014 with Intertrochanteric fracture. Fracture pattern (stable or unstable) and BMI were analyzed using odds ratios and age was controlled for.

RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-two patients were identified. No difference was found between fracture stability when BMI of 25 was used as a cutoff. However, when a BMI of 30 was used as a cutoff, there was a trend of difference (relative difference 30%) in rates of fracture type favoring unstable patterns in the obese group. This difference approached but did not reach statistical significance (P =.08). When adjusted for age, the difference remained but still did not reach statistical significance (P =.11).

DISCUSSION: Unstable type IT fractures were found more frequently in the obese cohort (BMI >30) than those who were not obese.

Language: en

Keywords

fragility fractures; geriatric trauma; metabolic bone disorders; osteoporosis; trauma surgery