Vertebral fractures in patients treated for femur proximal third fractures

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of fractures of the vertebral bodies in patients with femur proximal third fracture. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted at Hospital de Clínicas, Unicamp, SP, Brazil, between May and December 2012, which referred the patients with proximal femur fracture to radiographs of the spine. Fractures were evaluated according to number, severity and localization, applying the Genant index. RESULTS: Of the 15 subjects who completed the study, 14 had fractures of the vertebral bodies. The most commonly affected level was T8. There was no increased prevalence of fractures at the apex of the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. CONCLUSION: There is strong epidemiological association between femur proximal third fractures and fractures of vertebral bodies caused by insufficiency.