Epidemiology of hip and wrist fractures in Cameroon, Africa

Abstract

Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are believed to be uncommon in Africa. To reevaluate this notion, we documented all patients aged 35 years and older admitted to the two main urban hospitals in Cameroon following a diagnosis of fracture during 2 years. Among 513 patients sustaining fractures (192 women, 321 men), 13.5% of all fractures in women occurred at the hip (n = 26), 4.7% at the forearm (n = 9), and 81.8% (n = 157) at other sites (mainly tibia and femoral shaft). In men, the corresponding figures were 9% (n = 29), 1.9% (n = 6), and 89.1% (n = 286). Of the hip and wrist fractures occurring in women, 80.0% were low energy trauma fractures due to falls, 8.6% were high-energy trauma f..