Characterization of Preceding Fragility Fractures in Patients With Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis of 200 Cases

  • Nadia Gabotto Loredo Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8122-0237
  • Gonzalo M. Viollaz Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4573-883X
  • Lucio Gutiérrez Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4603-313X
  • Joaquín Swinnen Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7311-3118
  • Germán Garabano Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5936-0607
  • Melina Saban Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2682-4601
  • Álvaro J. Muratore Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7540-7137
  • Diego J. Gómez Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0258-6802
  • Alejandro Tedeschi Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5704-3122
  • Gustavo J. Teruya Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7342-1859
Keywords: Osteoporosis, fragility fractures, hip fractures

Abstract

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by decreased bone density that increases the risk of fractures, particularly in older adults. The objectives of this study were to document the frequency of fragility fractures preceding a hip fracture, the prevalence of each type of fracture, and the percentage of patients diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis prior to sustaining a hip fracture. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in patients aged >65 years who underwent surgery for hip fracture between 2022 and 2023 at a single site, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Variables analyzed included age, sex, fracture type and treatment, prior diagnosis of osteoporosis, and the anatomical sites of preceding fragility fractures. Results: Two hundred patients were included (159 women and 41 men; mean age 83.04 years). Sixty patients (30%) had sustained a fragility fracture before the hip fracture. The most common locations were the contralateral hip (9%), spine (8%), and distal radius (6.5%). Of these patients, 48.33% had a prior diagnosis of osteoporosis. Conclusions: Thirty percent of patients experienced fragility fractures (also referred to as sentinel fractures) prior to a hip fracture. Implementing preventive strategies for diagnosis and treatment in this population is crucial to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures and improve quality of life.

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Author Biographies

Nadia Gabotto Loredo, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gonzalo M. Viollaz, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lucio Gutiérrez, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joaquín Swinnen, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Germán Garabano, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Melina Saban, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Álvaro J. Muratore, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Diego J. Gómez, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Alejandro Tedeschi , Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Gustavo J. Teruya, Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Upper Limb Surgery Team, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Published
2025-12-27
How to Cite
Gabotto Loredo, N., Viollaz, G. M., Gutiérrez, L., Swinnen, J., Garabano, G., Saban, M., Muratore, Álvaro J., Gómez, D. J., Tedeschi , A., & Teruya, G. J. (2025). Characterization of Preceding Fragility Fractures in Patients With Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Analysis of 200 Cases. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 90(6), 525-529. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2025.90.6.2110
Section
Clinical Research