An epidemiological study of hip fracture in Honam, Korea.

We have undertaken an epidemiological study of fractures of the hip which occurred in the Honam area of Korea during the year 1991. Honam comprises 3 districts, Kwangju, Chonnam, and Chonbuk. On November 1st 1991 the total population over the age of 50 years in Honam was 1,205,370. During the year there were 405 fractures of the neck or intertrochanteric region of the femur, an incidence of 3.4 per ten thousand per year. The age specific incidence rate showed a gradual increase. The incidence rate showed seasonal variations being higher in the summer and fall, and lower in the winter and spring. The incidence in urban areas was higher than in rural regions to a level which was statistically significant. The average age of patients was 70.2 years (range 50 to 94 years). The most common cause of injury was a simple fall (61%). There were 212 females and 193 males, a ratio of 1.1:1. There were 196 fractures of the neck and 209 of the intertrochanteric region. The degree of osteoporosis increased with age. About half of the patients (49.9%) showed definite osteoporosis, the degree being higher in women and in fractures of the neck of the femur. Treatment was by operation in 328 patients (81%); 77 patients were treated conservatively or had no treatment (19%). Of the 360 patients whose final outcome was known, 26 died within three months of injury, a mortality of 7.22%. The mortality was 3.8% (11 out of 292) in patients who underwent operation, whilst it was 22.1% (15 out of 68) in patients who were treated conservatively or remained untreated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)