Incidencia de fractura de cuello de fémur (FCF). Área Sur y Sur Oriente de Santiago

Abstract

Osteoporosis has become a genuine epidemic. Its main outcome is the increase of fractures among old people. In order to determine the rates of incidence of the fracture considered the most serious, i.e., the femoral collar fracture (FCF), the discharge records of Barros Luco-Trudeau and Sótero del Rio hospitals were reviewed. During 1984 and 1985, 312 cases of FCC were found, in a population Of I,582,823 beneficiaries. It shows a rate of incidence of 9,8 patients/I00,000 inhabitants per year. Patients older than 45 years showed a rate of 45 as compared to 1.1 of the younger ones. Women showed a rate of FCF 1.5 times higher than men. The rates among people older than 45 years, constantly increase according to their age. In comparison with the English rates, the Chilean FCF ratio is 1/6 in women and 1/3 in men We conclude that FCF is a characteristic of elderly people especially between those of female sex. Compared to English rates, ours are significantly lower.