Epidemiology of Long Bone Fractures in the Elderly and Treatment Outcome with Interlocking Nailing in Southwest of Nigeria

BACKGROUND: According to the literature, long bone fractures are not common in the elderly, with fractures occurring as a result of low energy and trivial falls. While epidemiological studies of long bone fractures in elderly patients in developed countries are scarce, it is almost non-existent in resource-poor location. Hence, this study of the patterns and presentation of long bone fractures amongst the elderly population in an African poor resource setting and their short-term outcomes following operative intervention

METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective study involving 48 patients who were 60 years and above and had intramedullary nailing for their long bone fractures. Biodata and other variables of interest such as fracture aetiology, level, type, infection, union and further surgeries were extracted. Collected data were analyzed using the SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was inferred at p<0.05.

RESULT: Forty-eight interlocking nailings done in the elderly patients who were 60 years old and above over a 15-year period (February 2004 -January 2019) were retrieved. The average age was 70.0 ± 7.51 years, with 56.3% as females. Closed fractures accounted for 75%, while the mechanism of injury was mostly Road Traffic Accident {RTA} (70.8%). Non-union was significantly related to the level of fracture, p = 0.04. While the infection rate was related to the type of fracture (open fractures), p = 0.02.

CONCLUSION: Elderly long bone fractures followed majorly Road traffic accident (motorcycle-pedestrian) in resource-poor setting. for which most of the fractures united. The adverse outcome was associated with open fractures and proximal fractures.