Osteoporosis and radial head fractures in female patients: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Identifying radial head fractures as fragility fractures may improve case-findings for osteoporosis and thus be an indicator other fragility fractures.


METHODS
Thirty-five women aged ≥ 50 years with a radial head fracture and 57 controls were retrospectively selected and matched for age in strata of 5 years. Peripheral bone mineral density (BMD) measurement was performed at the calcaneus. A T score of less than -2.7 was considered osteoporosis. If the T value was between -1.4 and -2.7, an additional dual energy X-ray (DXA) scan was performed.


RESULTS
The patients were a median age of 60 years compared with 58 years for the control patients (P = .33). The mean T score of the patients was -1.8 (standard deviation [SD], 1.0; range, -2.2 to -0.3) compared with -1.2 (SD, 1.2; range, -4.0 to 1.3) for the control patients (P = .04). Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 11 patients and in 5 control patients. The patients had an increased risk of osteoporosis compared with the control patients (odds ratio, 3.4; P = .027).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that radial head fractures in women aged ≥ 50 years are potentially osteoporotic fractures. Offering these patients a BMD measurement may prevent future osteoporotic fractures, such as hip and spine fractures.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands. laurenskaas@hotmail.com
Laurens
L
Kaas
Inger N
IN
Sierevelt
Jos P A M
JP
Vroemen
Cornelis N
CN
van Dijk
Denise
D
Eygendaal
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors