[Epidemiology of fractures of the proximal third of the femur: 20 years follow-up].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate if the age, sex and morphology of osteoporotic hip fractures have changed over the last 20 years in our country.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included all proximal femoral fractures in patients over 65 years old who were treated at the Miguel Servet Hospital in Zaragoza during the periods 1989-1990 (n = 514 patients), 1999-2000 (n = 518 patients) and 2009-2010 (n = 625 patients).

RESULTS

The results showed a statistically significant increase in the mean age of patients with hip fracture from 80.3 years in 1989-1990 period to 82 years in 2009-2010 (p 0.041) and an increase in incidence until 159/100.000 (p <0.001) in 2009-2010 compared with incidence in 1989-1990, that was 98/100.0000.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip fractures during the 20 years of this study have been increased by 21,59%. The proportion between the different types of fractures showed no statistically significant change (p> 0.05), despite the increase in the proportion of trochanteric fractures between 1989-2010. There was a statistically significant increase (p <0.001) in the incidence of displaced cervical fractures and a decrease in nondisplaced cervical fractures.