Fractures of the Proximal End of the Femur in Göteborg, Sweden, 1940–1979

Abstract

A total of 3475 fractures of the proximal femur occurring in Goteborg, Sweden, in 1965, 1969, 1970, 1975, 1978 and 1979 were reviewed, and the information obtained was compared with earlier published epidemiologic data from Goteborg presented by Martensson for 1940-1959. A highly statistically significant age specific increase in fracture incidence was found for trochanteric as well as cervical fractures, and for both women and men. The fracture incidence increased about 3/1000 in 1965 to 5/1000 in 1979, and the yearly number of fractures in this city from 104 in 1940 to 788 in 1979. With the present trend the fracture incidence will double over the next 20 yr.