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RF90#225

Rapid Fire

Breaking Points in Vertebral Fragility Fracture Care: Patient Characteristics of Patients with Concomitant Vertebral and Hip Fractures Compared to Patients with Isolated Hip Fractures in
the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital

Stephanie Paige C. Abellera, Mary Ruth A. Padua, Irewin A. Tabu

University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital

Osteoporosis is a quantitative bone mineralization disorder associated with fragility fractures, and consequent morbidity and mortality. There is abundant literature on fragility hip fracture management, but limited data on patients with concomitant hip fractures and vertebral compression fractures (VCF). Although VCF incidence in the Asia-Pacific is estimated at 200-500 cases per 100,000 person-years with a two-fold 5 to10-year mortality risk, majority of patients don’t receive medical attention. This study describes characteristics of post-operative patients in a tertiary hospital in the Philippines with concomitant hip fractures and VCF in terms of demographics, clinical characteristics, osteoporosis severity, and functional scores. Participants aged ≥60 years with hip fractures within 30 days of injury and admitted at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital were recruited between September 2025 – February 2026. Data included baseline demographics, comorbidities, course of admission, Comorbidity Index, Parker Mobility Score, Clinical Frailty Scale, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Post-operative standing thoracolumbar and lumbosacral radiographs and dual x-ray absorptiometry were obtained. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. One third of patients with hip fractures had concomitant VCF particularly to the thoracolumbar region, graded severe in the Genant classification. 9% of patients reported ODI scores >61% indicating crippling disability due to back pain, while remaining patients reported scores between 21-60% indicating moderate to severe disability, causing difficulties in post-operative rehabilitation. Associated patient factors included older females, earlier menopause, chronic comorbidities, history of fall or previous fracture, and smoking. This data presents an opportunity to bridge the gap in policies, primary management, and secondary prevention of VCF among elderly Filipinos.

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