Intertrochanteric fractures in adults 65 and older: epidemiology and outcomes at a referral center

This was a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study of 216 patients aged 65 years or older with intertrochanteric fractures treated at a single referral center between 2019 and 2024. The investigators set out to characterize the epidemiological profile and clinical outcomes of this population. No comparator group or randomization was used; the design supports description only, not causal inference.

Women accounted for 65.7% of the cohort, and 50% belonged to the oldest-old subgroup. The predominant mechanism of injury was a fall from standing height, consistent with low-energy trauma typical of frail older adults. Fracture morphology was skewed toward instability, with 67.1% corresponding to unstable Tronzo patterns.

Surgical management was dominated by intramedullary fixation: cephalomedullary nailing was used in approximately 88% of cases and was reported as the primary surgical treatment. The median preoperative hospital stay was 5 days, and the median total hospital stay was 8 days. In-hospital mortality was low at 2.3%.

Detailed safety outcomes, complication rates, functional recovery, and longer-term mortality were not reported in the abstract. Funding sources, conflicts of interest, and the country or institution of the referral center were also not reported. The cross-sectional, single-center design limits generalizability and precludes conclusions about the efficacy of specific surgical choices or perioperative pathways.

For clinical practice, the findings align with international patterns: older women sustaining low-energy falls with unstable intertrochanteric patterns, commonly managed with cephalomedullary nailing. The authors emphasize that shortening preoperative delays and reinforcing fall- and fragility-fracture prevention in older adults are appropriate targets for improving outcomes.