BackgroundHip fractures are mainly caused by accidental falls and trips, which magnify forces in well-defined areas of the proximal femur. Unfortunately, the same areas are at risk of rapid bone loss with ageing, since they are relatively stress-shielded during walking and sitting. Focal osteoporosis in those areas may contribute to fracture, and targeted 3D measurements might enhance hip fracture prediction. In the FEMCO case-control clinical study, Cortical Bone Mapping (CBM) was applied to clinical computed tomography (CT) scans to define 3D cortical and trabecular bone defects in patients with acute hip fracture compared to controls. Direct measurements of trabecular bone volume were then made in biopsies of target regions removed at operation.MethodsThe sample consisted of CT scans from 313 female and 40 male volunteers (158 with proximal femoral fracture, 145 age-matched controls and 50 fallers without hip fracture). Detailed Cortical Bone Maps (c.5580 measurement points on the unfractured hip) were created before registering each hip to an average femur shape to facilitate statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Areas where cortical and trabecular bone differed from controls were visualised in 3D for location, magnitude and statistical significance. Measures from the novel regions created by the SPM process were then tested for their ability to classify fracture versus control by comparison with traditional CT measures of areal Bone Mineral Density (aBMD). In women we used the surgical classification of fracture location (‘femoral neck’ or ‘trochanteric’) to discover whether focal osteoporosis was specific to fracture type. To explore whether the focal areas were osteoporotic by histological criteria, we used micro CT to measure trabecular bone parameters in targeted biopsies taken from the femoral heads of 14 cases.ResultsHip fracture patients had distinct patterns of focal osteoporosis that determined fracture type, and CBM measures classified fracture type better than aBMD parameters. CBM measures however improved only minimally on aBMD for predicting any hip fracture and depended on the inclusion of trabecular bone measures alongside cortical regions. Focal osteoporosis was confirmed on biopsy as reduced sub-cortical trabecular bone volume.ConclusionUsing 3D imaging methods and targeted bone biopsy, we discovered focal osteoporosis affecting trabecular and cortical bone of the proximal femur, among men and women with hip fracture.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may affect patient outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether hip fracture patients admitted on warfarin or NOAC therapy were at risk of operative delay, prolonged length of stay, or increased mortality. Methods We collected data for 845 patients admitted to our centre between October 2014 and December 2016. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to test the association between warfarin and NOAC therapy on time to surgery and length of stay. Variables in the regression model were age, sex, admission AMTS, pre-fracture mobility, ASA score, fracture type, and operation type. Fisher's Exact Test was used to evaluate whether warfarin or NOAC therapy delayed surgery beyond 36 or 48 hours, or decreased 30-day, 6-month, or 12-month survival. Results Time to surgery was delayed in anticoagulated patients (p=0.028). NOAC therapy was independently associated with increased time to surgery beyond 36 hours (p=0.001), although not beyond 48 hours (p=0.355), whereas warfarin therapy was not associated with either. Anticoagulation did not increase length of stay (p=0.331). Warfarin therapy significantly reduced 30-day survival (p=0.007), but NOAC therapy did not (p=0.244). Neither warfarin nor NOAC therapy affected further survival. Conclusions NOAC therapy delays time to surgery beyond the NHS England 'Best Practice Tariff' in hip fracture patients. We aim to prospectively investigate long-term outcomes. Without a NOAC antidote, policy must change to ensure time-appropriate surgery for patients on NOACs. Preoperative involvement of the haematology team is essential.

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AIMTo compare mortality and time-to-surgery of patients admitted with hip fracture to our teaching hospital on weekdays vs weekends.METHODSData was prospectively collected and retrospectively analysed for 816 hip fracture patients. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out on 3 binary outcomes (time-to-surgery < 36 h; 30-d mortality; 120-d mortality), using the explanatory variables time-of-admission; age; gender; American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) grade; abbreviated mental test score (AMTS); fracture type; accommodation admitted from; walking ability outdoors; accompaniment outdoors and season.RESULTSBaseline characteristics were not statistically different between those admitted on weekdays vs weekends. Weekend admission was not associated with an increased time-to-surgery (P = 0.975), 30-d mortality (P = 0.842) or 120-d mortality (P = 0.425). Gender (P = 0.028), ASA grade (P < 0.001), AMTS (P = 0.041) and accompaniment outdoors (P = 0.033) were significant co-variates for 30-d mortality. Furthermore, age (P < 0.001), gender (P = 0.011), ASA grade (P < 0.001), AMTS (P < 0.001) and accompaniment outdoors (P = 0.033) all significantly influenced mortality at 120 d. ASA (P < 0.001) and season (P = 0.014) had significant effect on the odds of undergoing surgery in under 36 h.CONCLUSIONWeekend admission was not associated with increased time-to-surgery or mortality in hip fracture patients. Demographic factors affect mortality in accordance with previous published reports.