Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025

Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
Concurrent upper limb and hip fracture in the elderly
Morris Dlj1, Nightingale Jm1, Geoghegan Jm1
1Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK.
Aims:
To present a large series of concurrent upper limb and hip fracture in the elderly treated at a United Kingdom major trauma centre.
Patients And Methods:
Prospective data collection was performed for all elderly patients admitted to a single centre with hip fracture between January 2006 and November 2015. Comparative analysis of concurrent upper limb and hip fracture and an isolated hip fracture was performed.
Results:
Study cohort included 307 patients that had sustained concurrent upper limb and hip fracture and 6887 with an isolated hip fracture. A concurrent upper limb fracture was associated with increased length of stay (21.7 vs. 18.8 days, p = 0.003) and decreased proportion of patients returning to their own home at discharge (39.2% vs. 49.4%, p = 0.001). No differences in age, Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT), Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) and mortality were identified. However, concurrent wrist fracture 365-day mortality was lower than that of isolated hip fracture (20.9% vs 29.2%, p = 0.018). Concurrent humerus fracture was associated with increased inpatient death (13.7% vs 6.4%, p = 0.046) and 365-day mortality (34.7% vs 20.9%, p = 0.014) compared to concurrent wrist fracture. Surgical stabilisation of the concurrent upper limb fracture was performed in 90 wrist (52.3%) and 13 humerus (13.7%) cases. Operative management of the concurrent fracture did not yield significant differences in acute hospital length of stay or rehabilitation requirement. Cox regression analysis of 365-day survival data demonstrated that age, NHFS, AMT, gender and presence of a concurrent upper limb fracture independently influence 365-day mortality rate.
Conclusion:
There are increased rehabilitation requirements for elderly patients with concurrent upper limb and hip fractures. There is a marked distinction in survivorship outcomes for patients sustaining concurrent wrist and concurrent humerus fractures.
Clinical Relevance:
Demonstrates increased rehabilitation requirements in concurrent upper limb and hip fracture in the elderly Highlights concurrent humerus fracture as a high risk group.
More Related Videos
06:58Method and Instrumented Fixture for Femoral Fracture Testing in a Sideways Fall-on-the-Hip Position
Published on: August 17, 2017
09:51The Transition to an Anterior-Based Muscle Sparing Approach Improves Early Postoperative Function but is Associated with a Learning Curve
Published on: September 7, 2022
Related Concept Videos
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella
Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Bones of the Upper Limb: Ulna
Flail Chest-I
Flail chest is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition characterized by the fracture of three or more adjacent ribs in multiple places. It is most commonly caused by direct impacts and trauma, such as motor vehicle accidents or injuries from a steering wheel impact. It can also occur due to falls in elderly individuals with osteoporosis, or assaults involving sharp objects.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of flail chest is complex, involving fractures of...
Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...