2022 Volume 47 Issue 1 Pages 29-38
Objective: We conducted a multicenter prospective epidemiological survey in Ehime prefecture, which has a population of about 1.38 million, to investigate the frequency of fracture of the contralateral proximal femur after the first osteoporotic fracture of the proximal femur.
Methods: A 3-year follow-up was conducted of patients who underwent surgery for the first osteoporotic fracture of the proximal femur between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017. With the participation of 60 medical institutions, this survey covered most of the cases of surgery performed in Ehime prefecture for fracture of the proximal femur.
Results: In the first year, 1198 patients were enrolled, and of these, the final investigation of the 3-year survey was completed in 1085 patients. Of the 1085 patients, 54 patients (5.0%) developed a contralateral proximal femoral fracture (refracture) within 3 years after the surgery. Of the patients who developed refracture, patients aged 80 years or older accounted for 91%, and patients who developed refracture within one year after the first fracture accounted for 44%.
Discussion: About 5% of patients who underwent surgery for osteoporotic fractures of the proximal femur developed a refracture (contralateral proximal femoral fracture) within 3 years of after the surgery. Especially, the elderly (80 years old or older) were at a high risk of developing refracture within 1 year after the first fracture.
