Published in:
01-04-2022 | Original Article
A multi-site review of second hip fractures across 6 Dublin teaching hospitals
Published in: Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) | Issue 2/2022
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Introduction
Fragility hip fractures are common and costly. Secondary fracture prevention is a treatment goal following hip fracture; however, the number of those that proceed to fracture their contralateral hip in Ireland is unknown. There are plans to introduce a Fracture Liaison Service Database in Ireland which will aim to prevent secondary fractures. To establish a baseline figure for secondary hip fractures, the injury radiographs of 1284 patients from 6 teaching hospitals over a 1-year period were reviewed.
Methods
Irish Hip Fracture Datasheets and corresponding injury radiographs were reviewed locally for all hip fractures within each respective teaching hospital for a 1-year period (2019).
Results
A total of 8.7% of all fragility hip fractures across the 6 hospitals were secondary hip fractures (range 4.9–11.5%). 46% occurred within years 1 to 3 following index hip fracture. Forty-eight per cent of patients were started on bone protection medications following their second hip fracture.
Discussion/Conclusion
Approximately 1 in 11 hip fractures treated across the 6 teaching hospitals assessed in 2019 was a patient’s second hip fracture. We advocate for the widespread availability of Fracture Liaison Services to patients throughout Ireland to assist secondary fracture prevention.