Fractures of the hip: does the type of fall really affect the site of fracture?

• Published in: Injury Vol. 29; no. 8; pp. 585 - 587
• Main Authors: Hopkinson-Woolley, James A, Parker, Martyn J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.1998; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accidental Falls; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Hip Fractures - etiology; Hip Fractures - pathology; Hip Fractures - prevention & control; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Inpatients; Male; Medical sciences; Prospective Studies; Protective Devices; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Human; Proximal; Femur; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Trauma; Joint capsule; Hip; Type; Characteristics; Etiology; Fall; Bone; Localization; Elderly
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-1383(98)00133-8

The purpose of this study was to test accepted theories relating the characteristics of a fall to the anatomical site of hip fracture in the elderly. Twisting injuries are said to result in intracapsular fractures and falls directly onto the side are said to result in extracapsular fractures. 618 consecutive patients with a hip fracture were studied prospectively by being questioned with regard to the nature of their fall. After exclusions, 552 patients were left in the study. Of these, 324 patients sustained intracapsular fractures and 228 extracapsular fractures. More intracapsular fractures were associated with a fall onto the affected side than extracapsular fractures and rotation at the hip during the fall had a significant association with extracapsular fractures. In this study 84 per cent of all fractures occurred by falling directly onto the affected side. The clinical significance of this finding is that protective padding on the hip might be beneficial.