title: Low anthropometric indices in elderly females with fractured neck of femur.
abstract: Anthropometric measurements were made in 3 groups of elderly females (1) with fractured neck of femur, (2) those admitted to acute medical and geriatric wards, and (3) healthy women in the community. Mid-arm circumference was different in the three groups with mean values of 22.8 +/- 0.21 cm, 25.9 +/- 0.41 cm and 28.6 +/- 0.27 cm respectively; (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Triceps skinfold thickness was 24.7 +/- 0.70 mm in the healthy elderly but only 13.0 +/- 0.59 mm in the fracture group (p < 0.001). Fractured femur patients are therefore thinner than both healthy controls and unselected elderly female medical in-patients. These differences are most apparent in anthropometric indices dependent on body fat and this may be significant in terms of the aetiology of fractured femur.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine and of Geriatrics, University Hospital, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Mansell
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bendall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bassey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bastow