[Pertrochanteric fractures]

Pertrochanteric femoral fractures account for approximately half of all hip-related fractures and are associated with a significant loss of mobility and quality of life as well as a high mortality risk within the first year. The increasing incidence of these fractures is primarily attributed to demographic changes in our aging society. The majority of these injuries, also referred to as fragility fractures, result from low-energy trauma and are often facilitated by reduced bone quality due to osteoporosis. Globally, the incidence of proximal femoral fractures is projected to quadruple from 1.7 million cases per year in 1990 to 6.3 million cases per year by 2050. For pertrochanteric femoral fractures the gender distribution is 69% female and 31% male and the age distribution is 13% under 70 years and 87% over 70 years. This article provides a short overview on the most important surgical and interdisciplinary treatment aspects for the care of older patients with pertrochanteric femoral fractures.