Association of new coronavirus disease with fragility hip and lower limb fractures in elderly patients

Abstract

The novel coronavirus-induced infection (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Iran is one of the countries with a high incidence of COVID-19 infection. Data on three patients with fragility hip fracture and COVID-19 infection were collected from one hospital located in Badrud, Isfahan, Iran, from March 1, 2010, to March 30, 2020. All patients were elderly and had fracture induced by fall from standing height. All patients (n=3) were admitted with fragility hip fracture due to low energy trauma. The most common symptoms were weakness and fatigue. Positive C-reactive protein (CRP) and Leukopenia were the most common abnormal laboratory evaluations. According to the results, two patients underwent surgical treatment, and one patient had negative reverse transcription-CRP; however, all of them underwent medical treatment for COVID-19 infection. There is a possible relationship between COVID-19 infection and fragility hip fracture in elderly patients. It could be induced by fatigue and weakness due to COVID-19 disease. COVOID-19 infection should be considered in elderly patients with fragility hip fracture during the coronavirus pandemic. © 2020 BY THE ARCHIVES OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY.