Epidemiology of trochanteric fractures of the femur in Alicante, Spain, 1974-1982

From 1974 until 1982, the cases of 1287 patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur were examined. The incidence of this injury (16.6 per 100,000 persons per year) was lower than in other countries and increased over time. The predominance of the injury in women was 2:1 and the average age was 76.6 years. Women had a higher average age, but there was a progressive increase in age among men. There were no seasonal differences in the frequency of the injury. Seventy-seven percent of the cases were due to moderate trauma; most injuries occurred in the home. Sixty-four percent of the patients had associated diseases. Radiologic morphometry, using the Singh index and a modified method of the cortical-shaft index, was used in 246 patients older than 60 years of age; 84% of these patients had poor bone quality. There was no correlation between the degree of osteopenia and sex, although there was a correlation between osteopenia and fracture type.