Risk factors and complications contributing to mortality in elderly patients with fall-induced femoral fracture: A cross-sectional analysis based on trauma registry data of 2,407 patients.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to identify the risk factors and complications associated with mortality in elderly patients with femoral fracture after a fall from the ground level.

METHODS

This retrospective study reviewed data pertaining to elderly patients aged ≥65 years who were admitted into a Level I trauma center, between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2017. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent effects of univariate predictive variables on the occurrence of mortality.

RESULTS

Of 2407 enrolled elderly patients, there were 42 mortal and 2365 survival patients. A greater percentage of fatal patients than survival patients had a head injury with abbreviated injury scale (AIS) score ≥ 2 in the head/neck region (4.8% vs. 0.7%, respectively; p = 0.042). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the age (odds ration [OR] 1.1, 95% confident interval [CI] 1.0-1.1, p < 0.001), pre-existence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2-8.7, p = 0.023), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (OR 12.1, 95% CI 1.3-113.9, p = 0.029) were significant independent risk factors for mortality in elderly patients with a femoral fracture resulting from a ground level fall. The patients in mortality group had a significantly higher rates of pneumonia (OR 28.6, 95% CI 14.6-55.9, p < 0.001), respiratory failure (OR 68.7, 95% CI 32.2-146.4, p < 0.001), sepsis (OR 26.3, 95% CI 10.9-63.4, p < 0.001), and pulmonary embolism (OR 14.4, 95% CI 1.6-131.6, p = 0.002) than those in the survival groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified age, pre-existence of ESRD, and SAH as significant independent risk factors for mortality in elderly patients with femoral fracture in a fall. However, ESRD and SAH only contribute to the mortality in a small group of patients. In contrast, respiratory complications contributed greatly to mortality. Thus aggressive chest-protective measures are encouraged to decrease the respiratory complications associated with femoral fracture in elderly patients.