ANKLE FRACTURE MAY BE AN INDICATOR OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Evidence indicates that ankle fractures are becoming increasingly more common among older people, presenting a significant burden to the U.S. healthcare system, with annual costs exceeding $17 billion for osteoporosis-related fractures, explains Eric So, DPM. “The injury pattern can be quite complex due to the poor bone quality—a proven risk factor for surgical failure and post=operative complications—and strength,” he says. “Assessing bone mineral density in elderly patients who suffer ankle fractures can be an important consideration in the perioperative management of an ankle fracture.”

 

With inconsistent findings from prior research regarding the relationship between ankle fractures and osteoporosis, Dr. So and colleagues conducted a systematic review and met-analysis of observational, cross-sectional studies of high methodological quality in order to quantify the relationship between BMD in elderly patients with ankle fractures compared with that of cohorts without ankle fractures. In the final meta-analysis, seven studies were included that measured BMD using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. In all seven, post-menopausal women, women older than 50, or patients with a history of fragility fracture of the ankle were compared with a control group of women older than 50 or healthy post-menopausal women without a history of fragility ankle fractures. Among more than 25,000 patients, the average age was approximately 65.

 

Source: Physician's Weekly [9/26/20]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News