An age- and sex-controlled matched pair analysis of T scores in ethnic Indians with hip fractures.
OBJECTIVE
The first study to predict peritrochanteric fractures by the use of T scores amongst the Indian population was performed. This study aimed to assess the risk of fracture around the hip in peri-menopausal and postmenopausal women, and in men over the age of 35 years using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and to analyse whether the result, i.e. the T score, can predict an impending hip fracture.


METHODS
T scores of the unaffected hip in 30 patients with peritrochanteric fractures were determined, and matched pair analysis was done using a control group without fracture. All patients were from a single centre and were evaluated using the same scanner.


RESULTS
The mean T score of the 30 patients in the fracture group was -3.34 (range, -1.2 to -5.1; standard deviation [SD], 1.032), compared with the mean T score of the 30 control subjects which was -2.41 (range, 0.6 to -5.0; SD, 1.378). T scores of patients from the fracture group were significantly lower than those in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
We infer that T scores are the best predictors for fracture risk. A score of -2.5 or lower effectively defines patients at risk and is useful for predicting fracture risk in the Indian population. In patients with osteoporosis, whether a fall precedes the fracture or the fracture precedes a fall may not be an issue of debate, but can serve as a basis for prevention of additional fractures by instituting appropriate measures in patients at risk.
Vaidya
S V
SV
Department of Orthopaedics, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai-400012, India. ssv@mailandnews.com
Dholakia
D
D
Yadav
S
S
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors