OBJECTIVETo study the morbidity factors of bilateral intertrochanteric fractures by analyzing medical records, so as to provide evidences for preventing the multiple intertrochanteric fractures.

METHODSFrom Janurary 2000 to June 2009, 68 patients with bilateral intertrochanteric fractures were studied, including 31 males and 37 females, ranging in age from 42 to 95 years with an average age of 75 years. There were type A1 in 24 hips, type A2 in 96 hips, and type B3 in 16 hips. One hundred and twenty-eight hips had received surgical treatment, 8 hips were treated with conservative method. On the first injury, 67 patients discharged after treatment, 1 patients discharged after treatment in other department. On the second injury, 58 patients discharged after treatment, 2 patients died of complications, 8 patients dischagred after treatment in other department. The risk factors including age, cause of injury, fractures type, complications, osteoporosis and treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSThe average age of two fractures were (73.6 +/- 9.25) and (76.7 +/- 6.74) years; the major injury cause was fall; the A2-type fractures went up to 80.88% on the secondary injury;and the proportion of complications was high, mainly geriatric cognitive disorders, hemiplegic paralysis, and dysopia. Bone mineral density measurement of 16 cases showed marked osteoporosis.

CONCLUSIONOsteoporosis and fall injury contribute mostly to the multiple intertrochanteric fractures. Complication was the dominating risk factor. Treatment of osteoporosis, intensive care, postoperative rehabilitation and effective initial surgery are the key to prevent the secondary intertrochanteric fractures in old people.