Chiu K Y, Ng T P, Chow S P
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Hong Kong.
Injury. 1996 Jun;27(5):333-6. doi: 10.1016/0020-1383(95)00232-4.
A prospective study was made of 1500 elderly patients who suffered from acute hip fractures from 1986 to 1990. There were 36 per cent more fractures in the 6 colder months from November to April than in the rest of the year (P < 0.001). A strong correlation between the monthly adjusted fracture rate and the average lowest ambient temperature was also observed (P < 0.001). The fractures occurred in the older and less active patients during the 6 colder months. More importantly, they needed to wait longer for the operation during this 'high' season. This might be responsible for the higher medical complication rate after the operation. Better health care planning to help with the increased patient load in the 'high' season is essential to reduce the waiting time for the operation and the postoperative medical complication rate.
对1986年至1990年期间1500名老年急性髋部骨折患者进行了一项前瞻性研究。11月至次年4月这6个较寒冷月份的骨折发生率比一年中的其他时间高出36%（P<0.001）。还观察到每月调整后的骨折率与平均最低环境温度之间存在很强的相关性（P<0.001）。在这6个较寒冷月份，骨折发生在年龄较大且活动较少的患者身上。更重要的是，在这个“高峰期”，他们需要等待更长时间才能进行手术。这可能是术后医疗并发症发生率较高的原因。制定更好的医疗保健计划以应对“高峰期”增加的患者负担，对于减少手术等待时间和术后医疗并发症发生率至关重要。
