[Risk analysis of primary endoprosthetic management of proximal femur fractures]

[Proximal fracture of the femur in elderly patients. The influence of surgical care and patient characteristics on post-operative mortality]

In a retrospective study, 1.173 fractures of the proximal femur, which had been treated surgically, were analysed in two periods from 1975 to 1991 and from 1992 to 2000. The influence on mortality of preoperative risk factors and primary treatment with total hip replacement (THR), even in cases of pertrochanteric fractures, was analysed by stepwise logistic regression. In the later period, mortality within 90 days was 13.1%, and within 1 year 22.2%. Rejection of hemiendoprosthesis in high-risk patients with intracapsular fractures increased the mortality rate from 6.3% to 11.8%. The introduction of dynamic hip screws instead of Ender nails led to a reduction of mortality from 16.5 to 7.1%. Higher mortality after THR (27.6%) compared to osteosynthesis (15.5%) in pertrochanteric femur and lateral neck fractures was due to higher age and increased risk factors. Although the influence of some risk factors could be reduced, age, sex and morbidity influenced the outcome more than surgical treatment. THP, even after pertrochanteric fractures, is reasonable if it guarantees a quick and enduring mobilisation of the patient. Bicentric bipolar prostheses are recommended for high risk patients.

[Disparities in hospital mortality after proximal femoral fractures in East Germany 1989]

The revised and pseudonymized data set of the hospital discharge diagnoses of East Germany (German Democratic Republic, GDR) for 1989 was analyzed regarding the in-hospital case fatality of closed hip fractures (ICD-9 820.0, 820.2, 820.8). The case fatality of 20.2% during an average hospital stay of 60 days including between-ward and between-hospital transfers is high when compared to international data and data for West Germany. Apart from the expected influence of age, fatality was reduced for cervical (intracapsular) fractures, female sex, and for a location of the treating hospital within East Berlin. This reduction of the case fatality within East Berlin by nearly two thirds after adjustment for age, sex, and type of fracture compared to other regions is most likely explained by better medical treatment facitilities within East Berlin, the former capital of the GDR. The regional disparities that were observed during our model analysis give a hint towards the influence that medical care can have on the fatality associated with this on a population level relevant disease.