Analysis of the prognostic factors influencing the time elapsing until the contralateral hip fracture

Introduction: Although several national studies reported on the risk factors for contralateral hip fracture, there are no data about the prognostic factors of the time until contralateral hip fractures. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of different prognostic factors on the time until the development of contralateral fracture and to determine the incidence of contralateral hip fractures after femoral neck fractures. Method: Patients aged 60 years and over with contralateral hip fracture between 01 Jan 2000 and 31 Dec 2008 were identified among those who suffered their femoral neck fracture in Hungary in 2000. Risk factors as age, sex, comorbidities, type of fracture and surgery, place of living and hospitals providing treatment for primary fracture were analysed by one way ANOVA focusing on the time until the development of contralateral hip fracture. Results: 312 patients met the inclusion criteria. The incidence of contralateral hip fracture after femoral neck fracture ranged between 1.5% and 2.1%, the cumulative incidence was 8.24%. The mean time until the development of contralateral hip fracture was 1159.8 days. The incidence of contralateral hip fracture showed no significant deviation. Significantly shorter time (p = 0.010) was detected until the contralateral hip fracture in older patients with femoral neck fracture. Conclusions: The yearly incidence of contralateral hip fracture showed no significant difference by patients with femoral neck fracture over 60 years. The shorter time until the contralateral hip fracture by the older age groups highlights the need of elaboration of prevention strategies.