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The assessment of vertebral fractures in elderly women with recent hip fractures: the BREAK Study

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Abstract

Summary

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of vertebral fractures in elderly women with a recent hip fracture. The burden of vertebral fractures expressed by the Spinal Deformity Index (SDI) is more strictly associated with the trochanteric than the cervical localization of hip fracture and may influence short-term functional outcomes.

Introduction

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of vertebral fractures in elderly women with recent hip fracture and to assess whether the burden of vertebral fractures may be differently associated with trochanteric hip fractures with respect to cervical hip fractures.

Methods

We studied 689 Italian women aged 60 years or over with a recent low trauma hip fracture and for whom an adequate X-ray evaluation of spine was available. All radiographs were examined centrally for the presence of any vertebral deformities and radiological morphometry was performed. The SDI, which integrates both the number and the severity of fractures, was also calculated.

Results

Prevalent vertebral fractures were present in 55.7 % of subjects and 95 women (13.7 %) had at least one severe fracture. The women with trochanteric hip fracture showed higher SDI and higher prevalence of diabetes with respect to those with cervical hip fracture, p = 0.017 and p = 0.001, respectively. SDI, surgical menopause, family history of fragility fracture, and type2 diabetes mellitus were independently associated with the risk of trochanteric hip fracture. Moreover, a higher SDI was associated with a higher percentage of post-surgery complications (p = 0.05) and slower recovery (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that the burden of prevalent vertebral fractures is more strictly associated with the trochanteric than the cervical localisation of hip fracture and that elevated values of SDI negatively influence short term functional outcomes in women with hip fracture.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a research grant from Nycomed Italia.

The Break Study Group: M. Rondena (Legnano—MI), S. Bernasconi (Legnano—MI), G. Miele (Milano), F. Cosignani (Sesto San Giovanni—MI), B.N.G. Conti (Sesto San Giovanni—MI), I. Santi (Milano), G. Arioli (Mantova), M. Manfredini (Mantova), G. Gandolini (Milano), M. Invernizzi (Novara), C. Cisari (Novara), M. Rossini (Verona), G. Letizia Mauro (Palermo), G. Sanguedolce (Palermo), C. Venza (Palermo), R. Nuti (Siena), P. Nalin (Padova), M.G. Veloce (Padova), S. Flamini (L’Aquila), R. Laforgia (Matera), G. Iolascon (Napoli), C. Angrisani (Caserta), F. Sdaganelli (Taranto), M. Leone (Rutiogliano—BA), D. Topini (san Martino al Cimino—VT), M. Cavallaio (Torino), and L. Aulisa (Roma).

Conflicts of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Science and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    S. Gonnelli, C. Caffarelli & R. Nuti

  2. CNR Aging Branch, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    S. Maggi, P. Siviero & G. Crepaldi

  3. Research Centre for Health Promotion and Education, Department Physiopathology, Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    S. Rossi

  4. Don Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy

    G. Gandolini

  5. General Hospital, Novara, Italy

    C. Cisari

  6. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    M. Rossini

  7. Department of Orthopedics, University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    G. Iolascon

  8. Department of Rehabilitation, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    G. Letizia Mauro

Authors
  1. S. Gonnelli
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  2. C. Caffarelli
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  3. S. Maggi
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  4. S. Rossi
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  6. G. Gandolini
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  7. C. Cisari
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  8. M. Rossini
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  9. G. Iolascon
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  10. G. Letizia Mauro
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  11. G. Crepaldi
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  12. R. Nuti
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BREAK Study Group

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Gonnelli.

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Gonnelli, S., Caffarelli, C., Maggi, S. et al. The assessment of vertebral fractures in elderly women with recent hip fractures: the BREAK Study. Osteoporos Int 24, 1151–1159 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2119-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-012-2119-2

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