RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: To identify epidemiological aspects of the osteoporotic hip fractures (OHF) in the province of Zamora in 1993, and the basic and standardised accumulative incidence rates amongst the Spanish population. METHODS: 215 OHF cases were studied in the province throughout 1993, 203 were admitted to hospital, 188 of which were treated surgically by the Traumatology Department. The surveyed variables were: sex, age, location (rural, urban), type of (cervical, trochanteric) fracture, surgical procedure (partial prosthesis. Ender stems, others), seasonal factors and average hospital stay. RESULTS: Global accumulative incidence: 100.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. With respect to people over 50, the rate was 246.5 per 100,000 inhabitants (according to the 1991 census). Female predominance (3.78:1). Average age: 81.3 +/- 8.8 years. 50% distribution of fracture type, both at global and female level. Dual incidence of trochanteric fracture suffered by males. Average stay: 15.35 days. Standardised accumulative incidence according to age and sex for the Spanish population in 1991 would be 202.99 fractures per 100,000 inhabitants and year, which would result in a total number of 23,740 fractures per year. CONCLUSIONS: The province of Zamora currently has one of the highest rates of OHF in Spain, both with respect to overall population as well as people over 50 years of age. Average age, predominance of the female sex, distribution of the type of fracture and average hospital stay are similar to the figures published in our country.
