Sociodemographic determinants of intertrochanteric hip fractures in older adults: evidence from a six-year retrospective study in an Ecuadorian hospital

Intertrochanteric fractures are a major cause of morbidity, functional dependence, and mortality in older adults. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile and clinical outcomes of patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated at a referral center. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted that included 216 patients aged ≥65 years treated between 2019 and 2024. Most patients were women (65.7%) and belonged to the oldest-old subgroup (50%). The predominant mechanism of injury was a fall from standing height, and most fractures corresponded to unstable Tronzo patterns (67.1%). Cephalomedullary nailing was the primary surgical treatment (≈88%). The median preoperative hospital stay was 5 days, and total hospital stay was 8 days. In-hospital mortality was low (2.3%). In conclusion, intertrochanteric fractures most frequently affected older women after low-energy falls and were predominantly unstable patterns treated with intramedullary fixation, consistent with international evidence. Optimizing preoperative timelines and strengthening preventive strategies in older adults are necessary to improve outcomes.