Factors affect stability of intertrochanteric fractures when elderly patients fall.
BACKGROUND
Factors affecting the stability of intertrochanteric fractures when elderly patients fall are few to be reported. In this retrospective study, possible factors were investigated.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-three consecutive elderly patients (≥65 years) with intertrochanteric fractures due to low energy injuries were studied. Patient age, gender, body mass index (BMI), body weight and height were compared between fractures with stable (AO/OTA type A1, intact lesser trochanter, 80 patients) and unstable (AO/OTA types A2, A3, displaced lesser trochanter or reverse obliquity fractures, 143 patients) types. Statistical approaches with univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference in patient gender, age, body weight or height between patients with stable and unstable fractures in both univariate and multivariate analysis. However, BMI was statistically higher in patients with unstable fractures (22.7 vs 21.4, p = 0.01) in univariate analysis, but without a difference in multivariate analysis (p = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
Stability of intertrochanteric fractures may be not associated with gender, age, body weight and height or BMI when elderly patients fall. Bone mineral density or impact direction may be other possible contributing factors but requires further proofs.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Po-Han
PH
Chen
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccwu@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
Chi-Chuan
CC
Wu
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Wen-Jer
WJ
Chen
D000058:Accidental Falls; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Body mass index; Intertrochanteric fracture; Stability