Fall Risk Assessment Metrics for Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures

Existing hip joint disease is associated with an increased incidence of hip fracture in adults: A retrospective survey of 9710 individuals from a single center

Objective

In hip disease patients, pain and movement restrictions might cause changes in bone strength and increase the likelihood of falls, finally leading to hip fracture. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of, characteristics of and risk factors for hip fracture in patients with existing hip disease.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with existing hip disease treated at both outpatient and inpatient departments of our institute were identified by searching the electronic medical record system and followed retrospectively for the occurrence of hip fracture. Demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, sex and kind of primary hip disease, were collected from the electronic medical record system. The incidence and timing of hip fracture were estimated, and a Cox regression model was built to identify the independent risk factors for hip fracture in these patients.

Results

A total of 9710 eligible patients were included. After a mean follow-up of 3.97 years, hip fractures were identified in 95 patients, for an estimated incidence of hip fracture of 978.37 per 100,000 patients. The femoral neck was involved in 49 fractures (51.58 %), and the femoral trochanter was involved in 45 fractures (47.37 %). Four independent risk factors and one protective factor for hip fracture in patients with hip diseases were identified: age (HR = 1.116, 95 % CI = 1.094-1.138), the presence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (HR = 2.201, 95 % CI = 1.217-3.980), a lower Harris hip score (HR = 0.966, 95 % CI = 0.949-0.982), a history of previous hip surgery (HR = 2.126, 95 % CI = 1.304-3.466) and the use of walking aids (HR = 0.588, 95 % CI = 0.354-0.975). A scoring system with a total score of 20 points was built, which included all of the above risk factors. The predictive scores for a low risk (estimated incidence of hip fracture ≤30 %), a moderate risk (estimated incidence of hip fracture 31 %-69 %), and a high risk (estimated incidence of hip fracture ≥70 %) of hip fracture were ≤8.5 points, 9.0-13.0 points and ≥13.5 points, respectively.

Conclusion

The incidence of hip fracture in the special population of patients with existing hip disease was determined. Elderly patients, patients with a history of hip surgery, patients with osteonecrosis and patients with poor Harris hip scores were at increased risk of hip fracture. In patients with a predictive score greater than 9 points, indicating a moderate to high risk of hip fracture, the use of a walking aid might reduce the risk of hip fracture.

Analysis of Clinical Effect after Treatment of Patients with Femoral Neck Fracture Using Total or Hemihip Arthroplasty

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the difference in clinical outcomes between total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) in patients with femoral neck fracture.

METHOD

To retrospectively analyze 96 patients (96 hips) with femoral neck fracture treated in our hospital and distinguish them into THA group (50 patients with 50 hips) and HA group (46 patients with 46 hips) according to the difference of their chosen surgical procedure, and to compare the difference in perioperative indexes, postoperative hip function, occurrence of near and long-term complications, long-term imaging performance, and revision rate between the two groups.

RESULT

The operating time, intraoperative blood loss, and total drainage were greater in the THA group than in the HA group (P < 0.05). At 6 months after surgery, the Harris score of the hip joint was higher in the HA group than in the THA group. At 3 years after surgery, the Harris score was higher in the THA group than in the HA group (P < 0.05). At 3 years after surgery, the excellent hip function rates were 86.00% and 67.39% in the THA and HA groups, respectively, with statistically significant difference between the groups. The incidence of long-term complications was significantly lower in the THA group than in the HA group (P < 0.05). The anteversion and abduction angles of patients in the HA group were smaller than those in the THA group at 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The WOMAC scores of the THA group were better than those of the HA group at 3 years after surgery (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Compared with hemiarthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty has a longer operative time and more postoperative bleeding, but the complication rate is relatively lower in the long term, and the patients have better long-term hip function recovery, so total hip arthroplasty is recommended for patients with femoral neck fracture with an expected survival time longer than 3 years.

Malnutrition, poor function and comorbidities predict mortality up to one year after hip fracture: a cohort study of 2800 patients

PURPOSE

Despite extensive research, a complete understanding of factors influencing mortality risk after hip fractures is lacking. Previous research has focused on static risk factors; however, to improve outcomes, attention should be directed towards risk factors that may be optimised. The present study aimed to investigate the association of 19 risk factors with mortality among patients with hip fracture treated according to a well-defined guideline.

METHODS

The study was a retrospective analysis of a large prospective patient cohort with all consecutive patients surgically treated for a hip fracture from January 2011 to December 2017 included (n = 2800). Variables were obtained from patient records and the Holstebro Hip Fracture Database comprising prospectively registered data on demographics, comorbidity, malnutrition (low Body Mass Index (BMI) or albumin) and hospital stay (including fracture and surgical data, biochemistry, mobilisation and discharge). Outcomes were 30-day and one-year mortality.

RESULTS

Patients were predominantly female (66%); median age 81.6 years. Overall mortality was 9% at 30 days and 24% at one year. Age ≥ 75 years, male gender, nursing home residence, cognitive impairment, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ 3, BMI < 20 kg/m², albumin < 35 g/l, creatinine ≥ 100 µmol/l, a low New Mobility Score and no mobilisation were all associated with increased mortality at 30 days and one year.

CONCLUSION

In addition to non-modifiable risk factors, comorbidities (expressed as high ASA score and creatinine), malnutrition, and failure to achieve early post-operative mobilisation were associated with increased short and long-term mortality among patients with hip fracture: these are potentially modifiable. The effect of optimisation interventions warrants further research.