title: The impact of osteoporosis on the classification of hip and wrist fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies demonstrated a correlation between bone density, stability of fracture fixation, and outcome. Because current fracture classifications do not take osteoporosis into account, a prospective radiological analysis was conducted of patients with hip and wrist fracture to evaluate the impact of osteoporosis on fracture classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Altogether, 77 consecutive patients with either hip or wrist fracture were prospectively recruited within 24 hours of sustaining the fracture. The patients were assigned to subgroups according to gender, fracture site, fracture type, and bone mineral density (BMD). Using widely accepted classification systems for hip and wrist fractures, the impact of osteoporosis on fracture classification was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Osteoporosis dominated in both fracture types and bone mineral density showed a significant negative correlation with age. Pertrochanteric fractures were more frequent, showing an equal distribution among severity grades, while less frequent femoral neck fractures were mainly unstable fractures. Postmenopausal patients sustained more severe intraarticular comminuted wrist fractures, which were not found using the Fernandez classification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contradiction between the higher incidence but lower severity of pertrochanteric fractures compared with femoral neck fractures in osteoporotic bone and inconsistencies between the classifications of wrist fractures may indicate incomplete fracture classification in osteoporosis. Given the high incidence of osteoporotic fractures, incorporating bone mineral status into fracture classification systems may improve preoperative assessment, implant stability, and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, Justus-Liebig-University Medical Center, Giessen, Germany. hoesell@trinity-health.org
authors.forename: Laszlo M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hoesel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pausch
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schnettler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heiss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000145:classification*