[PROXIMAL FEMUR FRACTURES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC].

INTRODUCTION

A larger number of proximal hip fractures occur outdoors rather than within a patient's home.

BACKGROUND

At the beginning of 2020, Covid-19 was classified as a global pandemic. Elderly patients are at risk for both occurrences of osteoporotic proximal hip fractures and for increased morbidity and mortality due to infection with Covid-19. Lockdown measures were implemented to decrease the rising incidence of Covid-19. The effect of these measures on hip fracture epidemiology is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of national lockdown measures on proximal hip fracture epidemiology.

METHODS

Data on patients with proximal hip fractures admitted between January 2019 and December 2020 were collected retrospectively. Cases were stratified weekly. Information was compared, between government imposed lockdown periods during 2020, to corresponding periods during 2019. The trend of cases throughout the year 2020 was observed.

RESULTS

Of 477 cases included, 259 occurred in 2019 and 218 in 2020. There was no significant difference in age, gender, and primary residence. There was a decrease of 20.45% in proximal hip fracture per week during the entirety of the Covid-19 period compared to 2019 (3.89 ± 2.13 vs. 4.89 ± 2.00; p= 0.02), and a 15.95% decrease during the entire year of 2020 (4.11 ± 2.33 vs. 4.89 ± 1.99; p= 0.07). The most pronounced decrease occurred during the second lockdown period (4.6±1.67 vs. 2.40±1.82; p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant decrease in the number of proximal hip fractures during the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically occurring during the government imposed lockdowns.

DISCUSSION

The surrounding environment affects the risk of having a hip fracture in the elderly population, avoiding going out decreases the probability for a femoral neck fracture.