[Hip fracture. Experience in 647 Chilean patients aged 60 years or more]

Hip fractures (HFx) are an important geriatric syndrome, with a high incidence in developing countries.

To describe characteristics of a group of Chilean patients with HFx.

In a cross-sectional study we included patients aged 60 years or more with a HF admitted to an orthopedic service along three years. Age, incidence, location, seasonality, hospital stay, time between HFx and surgery, mortality, prior treatment for osteoporosis, anatomical location, etiology and type of surgery were evaluated.

We reviewed 647 patients with a median age of 81 years (76% women). The calculated incidence of hip fracture for people aged ≥ 65 years was 177/100,000. Sixty six percent of fractures were extracapsular. Mean hospital stay was 17 days and the mean lapse between the fracture and surgery was 19 days. Eighty four percent of patients had osteoporosis and only 5% were receiving treatment. Eighty three percent of patients were operated. Osteosynthesis was mainly used for extracapsular fractures and arthroplasty for intracapsular lesions. Intracapsular HFx tended to occur more commonly during warm seasons (Odds ratio = 1.534). Mortality at one year was 24%. It was higher among non-operated patients in whom the proportion of males and number of comorbidities were significantly higher.

A high proportion of patients with HFx have osteoporosis albeit a reduced number is receiving treatment. Non-operated patients had a higher risk profile and higher mortality.