A combined fracture and mortality risk index useful for treatment stratification in hip fragility fractures

Objectives

In this study, we aimed to assess the stratification ability of the Fracture and Mortality Risk Evaluation (FAME) index for reoperation, new fragility fracture, and mortality during one-year follow-up.

Patients and methods

Between November 2018 and July 2019, a total of 94 consecutive hip fragility fracture patients from two centers (20 males, 74 females; mean age: 79.3±8.9 years; range, 57 to 100 years) were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were classified into high, intermediate, and low fracture and mortality risk groups according to the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) score and Sernbo score, respectively, as well as nine combined categories according to the FAME index. Hospital records were reviewed to identify re-fractures (reoperations, implant failure, new fragility fractures on any site) and mortality at one year following the FAME index classification.

Results

Overall re-fracture and mortality rates were 20.2% and 33%, respectively. High fracture risk category (FRAX-H) was significantly associated with higher re-fracture (odds ratio [OR]: 2.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1-8.2, p=0.037) and mortality rates compared to others (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.5-9.3, p=0.003). The patients classified within the FRAX-H category (n=35) had different mortality rates according to their Sernbo classification; i.e., patients classified as low mortality risk (Sernbo-L) (n=17) had lower mortality rates compared to others in this group (n=18) (35.3% and 66.7%, respectively), indicating a low statistical significance (OR: 0.3, 95% CI: 0.1-1.1, p=0.063). Similarly, within patients classified in Sernbo-L category (n=64), those classified as high fracture risk (FRAX-H) (n=17) had significantly higher re-fracture rates compared to others in this group (n=47) (35.3% and 8.5%, respectively), (OR: 5.9; 95% CI: 1.4-24.5), (p=0.017). Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for covariates (age, sex, length of hospital stay and BMI) yielded similar results.

Conclusion

The FAME index appears to be a useful stratification tool for allocating patients in a randomized-controlled trial for augmentation of hip fragility fractures.

Ollier Disease: A Case Series and Literature Review

Summary. Background.

Ollier disease is the most common nonhereditary type of enchondromatosis. Enchondromas are common, usually benign intraosseous cartilaginous tumors that form near the growth plate cartilage predominantly unilaterally in the metaphyses and diaphyses of tubular bones. They usually affect the long bones of the hand, the humerus, and the tibia, followed by flat bones, such as the pelvis. The estimated prevalence of Ollier disease is 1 in 100,000 and while it is linked with somatic heterozygous mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 genes, exact etiology is unknown. The risk of malignant transformation towards chondrosarcoma is up to 30–35% and it is clinically suspected when pain and a rapid increase in the size of the lesions is seen.

Case presentations.

We report two clinical cases of patients diagnosed with Ollier disease. In both cases transformation to chondrosarcoma was observed.

Conclusions.

Ollier disease is a rare disorder, defined by the presence of multiple enchondromas and an asymmetric distribution of the cartilage lesions that can be extremely variable in terms of size, location, age, gender. Constant monitoring of patients is important due to the high risk of malignancy. Because the disease is very rare and the manifestations vary widely, each patient’s case must be evaluated, and the treatment strategy adopted individually.