Osteomalacia in the elderly.

Over recent years it has been demonstrated that there is a significant incidence of osteomalacia in elderly patients presenting with fractures of the femoral neck. The results of a survey carried out on all patients admitted to St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, with fractures of the upper end of the femur over a 12-month period are presented, and the condition of osteomalacia in the elderly is discussed. It is concluded that in this community osteomalacia does not present as a practical problem except in those patients who have the condition as a result of a definite predisposing factor.