BACKGROUND: It is often assumed that hip fractures occur more commonly in winter, but the evidence is conflicting. It is important to clarify this issue to aid planning of health resources and understanding of the aetiology of these fractures in the elderly. AIM: To determine whether the incidence of fractures altered with the daily temperature, seasons or months of the year. METHOD: Over a five-year period we studied 818 patients, over the age of 65, who presented to one district general hospital with a fracture of the proximal femur. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the incidence of fractures with different temperatures, changes of temperature, season or month of the year. Also, there was no significant difference in the characteristics of patients (age, sex, pre-injury mobility, residence, functional and mental scores) presenting in different seasons or temperature ranges. Patients presenting in winter months had a significantly longer inpatient stay, which may have been due to the strain on the social services over this time. CONCLUSION: Other factors must be analysed when considering the aetiology of hip fractures in the elderly. There may be no extra demand on surgical facilities or other acute resources to treat hip fractures during the winter months in southern England.
BACKGROUND: It is often assumed that hip fractures occur more commonly in winter, but the evidence is conflicting. It is important to clarify this issue to aid planning of health resources and understanding of the aetiology of these fractures in the elderly. AIM: To determine whether the incidence of fractures altered with the daily temperature, seasons or months of the year. METHOD: Over a five-year period we studied 818 patients, over the age of 65, who presented to one district general hospital with a fracture of the proximal femur. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the incidence of fractures with different temperatures, changes of temperature, season or month of the year. Also, there was no significant difference in the characteristics of patients (age, sex, pre-injury mobility, residence, functional and mental scores) presenting in different seasons or temperature ranges. Patients presenting in winter months had a significantly longer inpatient stay, which may have been due to the strain on the social services over this time. CONCLUSION: Other factors must be analysed when considering the aetiology of hip fractures in the elderly. There may be no extra demand on surgical facilities or other acute resources to treat hip fractures during the winter months in southern England.
Authors: M Fraenkel; M Yitshak-Sade; L Beacher; M Carmeli; M Mandelboim; E Siris; V Novack Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2017-05-23 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: M Finsterwald; E Sidelnikov; E J Orav; B Dawson-Hughes; R Theiler; A Egli; A Platz; H P Simmen; C Meier; D Grob; S Beck; H B Stähelin; H A Bischoff-Ferrari Journal: Osteoporos Int Date: 2013-10-18 Impact factor: 4.507
Authors: José María Tenías; Marisa Estarlich; Eusebio Crespo; Carmen Román-Ortiz; Angel Arias-Arias; Ferran Ballester Journal: J Environ Public Health Date: 2015-02-10