Objetive

Humeral fragility fractures represent an important complication of osteoporosis as they rank the third most prevalent in individuals over sixty years old. Our study aims to analyze the prevalence and treatment of the humeral fragility fractures in a tertiary referral hospital.

Material and methods

Retrospective study of those patients presenting humeral fragility fractures who attended a tertiary referral hospital during 2013. Clinical and epidemiological variables were collected, and the incidence of new fractures and that of mortality was analyzed over a three-year period.

Results

248 humeral fragility fractures were analyzed. 81% of the patients were women whose average age was 71 years. 28.2% of the patients have suffered a previous fracture and 20.2% of them suffered one at a later time. 12.5% had been previously diagnosed with osteoporosis and only 9.2% got this bone metabolic condition diagnosed after fracturing the humerus. 18% of patients passed away during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

In our area of expertise, humeral fragility fractures are followed by a low percentage of underlying osteoporosis cases being diagnosed and treated, what may be the trigger to a rise in the risk of new fractures.

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