Frequency distribution of fractures among hepatitis C virus (HCV)- or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients referred to hospital orthopedic surgery wards

Abstract

Background: Some of studies showed that Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and related drugs not only have effect on liver and immunity systems but also have effect on musculoskeletal and bone mass density and led to increase of fractures risk; investigations about these effects are limited. The aim of this study was determining the frequency distribution of fractures among HCV- or HIV-positive patients referred to hospital orthopedic surgery wards. Methods: In a cross-sectional study during 2012-2014, 132 HCV- or HIV-positive patients hospitalized to Kashani and Alzahra hospitals (Isfahan, Iran) due to fractures were studied. Fracture status, improvement time and complications due to fracture were investigated. Findings: Of 132 studied patients, 87 (65.9) were HCV-positive, 21 (15.9) HIV-positive, 17 (12.9) HCV- and HIV-positive and 7 (5.3) were HCV-positive with cancer. The most prevalent of damage was femur fracture that happened in 69 (52.3) patients. Kind of damage was related to background diseases and frequency distribution of femur fracture (as the most frequent fracture) in HCV-, HIV-, HCV- and HIV- and HCV-positive with cancer patients was 48.3, 28.6, 88.2 and 85.7 percent, respectively. In addition, the frequency distribution of complications was different based on the kind of background diseases (P = 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, prevalence of bone fracture in HCV- or HIVpositive patients was high and probably, was related to lock of bone mass density and increase of bone fracture risk. In addition, post-treatment complications such as infection and un-union were prevalent in these patients. Hence, prevention activities and routine surveillances such as bone densitometry and musculoskeletal surveillance mast be done in these patients. © 2010, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.