[The trace-element zinc in medial fractures of the collum femoris and in coxarthrosis (author's transl)].

In a comparative study among two groups of patients--persons with a medial fracture of the collum femoris and persons with advanced coxarthrosis--the zinc-content of the femur was measured. For this analysis a bone-biopsy was performed when an endoprothesis was implanted. In some of the patients the zinc-levels in the blood were determined on several occasions. If the zinc-content of the blood was low, similarly the zinc-content of the bone was reduced, especially in patients with medial fractures. In patients with severe coxarthrosis the zinc-content is reduced by 50%.