AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF HIP FRACTURE IN HONAM, KOREA

We have undertaken an epidemiological study of fractures of the hip wh ich occurred in the Honam area of Korea during the year 1991. Honam co mprises 3 districts, Kwangju, Chonnam, and Chonbuk. On November 1st 19 91 the total population over the age of 50 years in Honam was 1,205,37 0. During the year there were 405 fractures of the neck or intertrocha nteric region of the femur, an incidence of 3.4 per ten thousand per y ear. The age specific incidence rate showed a gradual increase. The in cidence rate showed seasonal variations being higher in the summer and fall, and lower in the winter and spring. The incidence in urban area s was higher than in rural regions to a level which was statistically significant. The average age of patients was 70.2 years (range 50 to 9 4 years). The most common cause of injury was a simple fall (61%). The re were 212 females and 193 males, a ratio of 1.1 : 1. There were 196 fractures of the neck and 209 of the intertrochanteric region. The deg ree of osteoporosis increased with age. About half of the patients (49 .9%) showed definite osteoporosis, the degree being higher in women an d infractures of the neck of the femur. Treatment was by operation in 328 patients (81%); 77 patients were treated conservatively or had no treatment (19%). Of the 360 patients whose final outcome was known, 26 died within three months of injury, a mortality of 7.22%. The mortali ty was 3.8% (11 out of 292) in patients who underwent operation, whils t it was 22.1% (15 out of 68) in patients who were treated conservativ ely or remained untreated Patients who underwent operation had a lower level of mortality at 3 months and were more active than those who di d not have surgery.