PATIENTS WITH FEMORAL-NECK AND INTERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES - ARE THEYTHE SAME

A prospective analysis was performed involving 680 geriatric patients with hip fractures to determine whether the demographic profile of pat ients with femoral neck fractures was similar to that of patients with intertrochanteric fractures, All patients were community dwelling, co gnitively intact, previously ambulatory elderly with femoral neck or i ntertrochanteric fracture, Three hundred fifty-eight patients (52.6%) sustained a femoral neck fracture; 322 (47.4%), an intertrochanteric f racture, Patients with an intertrochanteric fracture were significantl y older, more likely to be limited to home ambulation, and were more d ependent regarding basic and instrumental activities of daily living, After stratification by gender and adjustment for age, these differenc es remained significant in women only, There were no differences in ag e, prefracture ambulatory ability, or dependence in activities of dail y living in men with either type of fracture.