2009 Faculty Researchers

Gregory J. Della Rocca, MD, PhD, FACS

Characterization of geriatric patients with fractures below the hip, and comparison of this patient population with geriatric hip fracture patients

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Co-Sponsors

Brett D. Crist, MD, FACS
Yvonne M. Murtha, MD

Department

Orthopaedic Surgery

Office Location

MC213 McHaney Hall

Phone #:

Office: (573) 882-6562

Email:

ellebrachtt@health.missouri.edu

Summary

The geriatric population in the United States is rapidly increasing, and with it, incidence of fractures associated with low-energy trauma is also increasing. Hip fractures, for example, are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Considerable interest in the management and outcomes of geriatric hip fracture patients has been generated by the high morbidity and mortality rates noted in this patient population. Multiple studies have concluded that optimal outcomes can be achieved by applying peri-operative protocols to elderly hip fracture patients. However, little attention has been paid to the management of geriatric patients who present to hospital with lower extremity fractures below the subtrochanteric region of the femur (below the hip). Ankle, distal femur, tibia, and foot fractures routinely occur in elderly patients with osteoporosis and other medical comorbidities. This patient population has not been extensively characterized. Rehabilitation needs are different (weight bearing may be restricted on the affected leg), which may have implications on short- and long-term outcomes. This study proposes to characterize retrospectively the population of geriatric below-the-hip fracture patients, and to compare this patient population to the geriatric hip fracture population, at our institution over the same period of time.

Hypothesis: Geriatric patients with isolated fractures below the subtrochanteric region of the femur are not different from geriatric patients with hip fractures with regard to pre-fracture independence and health status, mechanism of injury, characteristics of hospital stay, discharge status and disposition, and outcomes.