EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HIP-FRACTURES IN AN URBAN-POPULATION OF CENTRAL ARGENTINA

The epidemiology of fractures of the proximal femur was studied over a 1-year period in the city of La Plata, Argentina (population 288 000, latitude 35-degrees-S). One hundred and ninety-five patients (164 wom en and 31 men) aged 50 years or over suffered a fracture of the proxim al femur. The median age was 80 years in women and 77 years in men. Th e incidence of hip fractures per 100 000 inhabitants aged 50 years or over was 379.4 in women and 100.9 in men (female/male ratio 3.76). The age-adjusted ratio was 2.90. In women the incidence increased from 11 .3 in the sixth to 2807.3 in the ninth decade.