title: Fractured neck of femur in black patients: a prospective study.
abstract: We explored the role of iron overload, deficiency of vitamin C and alcohol abuse in the aetiology of cervical and intertrochanteric fractures of the neck of the femur as a result of minor trauma. We studied prospectively 72 patients (45 men, 27 women). Levels of serum iron markers, vitamin C and alcohol markers were measured. Consumption of alcohol was estimated using questionnaires. The findings were compared with those of an age- and gender-matched control group. The mean age of the men was 59.5 years and of the women 66.9 years, with a male predominance. In the men, iron overload, as shown by high levels of serum ferritin (p < 0.001) and deficiency of vitamin C (p < 0.03), as well as abuse of both Western and the traditional type of alcohol, appear to be important aetiological factors. In women, alcohol abuse was also common, but iron markers and levels of vitamin C did not differ significantly from the control group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Natalspruit Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schnaid
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: MacPhail
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Sweet
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019190:Iron Overload / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers