Cervical and trochanteric hip fractures: bone mass and other parameters

Clin Rheumatol. 1999;18(3):201-6. doi: 10.1007/s100670050085.

Abstract

We examined 310 hip fracture patients (55 men, 255 women) to identify differences in those patients who had suffered a cervical fracture compared with those with a trochanteric fracture of the hip. Patients underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan of their hip and total body and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) scans of their heel. Other measurements included medical/drug history. Significant differences were found for broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) and DXA total-body measurements, with those with a cervical fracture having a higher bone mass. Those with a trochanteric fracture showed a significantly higher incidence of stroke (12.8% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.05), while high blood pressure/antihypertensive therapy was significantly more common in the cervical fracture group (11.6% vs. 4.3%, p < 0.03). Therefore, it is not only bone parameters that differ in these patients. In the presence of certain medical conditions, preventative therapy may be directed to managing co-existing conditions as well as improving bone density.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorptiometry, Photon
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Density*
  • Calcaneus / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Hip / diagnostic imaging
  • Hip Fractures / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Ultrasonography