A prospective case-control study of ankle fracture in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVES

To compare bone mineral density of women with postmenopausal ankle fractures with controls and review patient characteristics, injury mechanisms, and outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective case-control study.

SETTING

University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.

PARTICIPANTS

Women older than 60 years, admitted with ankle fractures between 2002 and 2003 and controls (age-matched women with femoral neck fractures).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Demographic data, bone mineral density, mechanism of injury, fracture pattern, treatment, and the functional outcome.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study group (18 ankle fracture patients) was 74 years. The fractures usually resulted from a low-energy trauma; isolated lateral malleolar fracture was the most common (8/18), whilst six had bimalleolar fractures. Their mean T-score bone mineral density values at the spine and hip were -1.67 and -1.70, respectively; corresponding Z-scores were +0.73 and +0.99. The bone mineral density of the study group was significantly higher than in patients with fractured neck of femur (controls) and the general population (P<0.05). Nine of the study group had diabetes and one had impaired glucose tolerance. Treatment comprised casting in 10 patients and operative fixation in seven. Good functional recovery was achieved; most patients were able to resume their premorbid level of independent daily activities with a good motor functional independence score (85.18/91) 1 year post-injury.

CONCLUSION

In this case-control study, postmenopausal ankle fractures were not associated with osteoporosis. Diabetic neuropathy may have been a risk factor for such injury. The functional outcome of such patients was generally satisfactory, provided appropriate treatment was given.

Experience with primary exeter total hip arthroplasty in patients with small femurs. Review at average follow-up period of 6 years

One hundred twelve hips in 101 Chinese patients received a primary cemented Exeter total hip arthroplasty (Howmedica, Hong Kong). Average age was 65 years. The most common diagnosis was avascular necrosis. Average follow-up period was 6 years (range, 3 years to 9 years, 6 months). The Harris hip score improved from a preoperative average of 41.2 to 82.2 at the last follow-up visit. Stem subsidence within the cement mantle occurred in 9% of the cases, and none of these stems had other evidence of loosening. Three hips in two patients were revised because of loosening at 5 to 8 years after surgery. Because of the small size of the femurs, stem oversizing was common. Oversizing of the stem and an incomplete cement mantle might account for the early loosening. Stems of a smaller size should be made available to this population.

Osteomyelitis of the spine due to Salmonella infection--conservative treatment with quinolone: a case report

Although osteomyelitis due to Salmonella infection is known to be associated with sickle cell anemia, various hemoglobinopathies and immune suppressive states, it may also occur in normal hosts. A 16-year-old Chinese boy without sickle cell disease or any other condition that would compromise the immune system had osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine caused by Salmonella enteritidis. The condition was treated conservatively with ciprofloxacin (quinolone group). This may be the first reported case in which a patient with spinal osteomyelitis due to Salmonella infection, who was otherwise healthy, was successfully treated nonoperatively with quinolone.