Tudy objective - retrospective analysis of distal forearm fracture rates due to low trauma in men and women aged 50 years and over in the Yekaterinburg city in the period 1992-1997 was performed. The study was based on patients’ registration at the emergency units. Results -the mean incidence rate of forearm fractures was 758,5 per 100,000 inhabitants (among male - 249,3 and among female - 1064,2 per 100,000). In women the incidence rate increased till 69 years, and after that age the decrease was noted. The mean frequency in women was the highest between October and March, when the streets are slippery with ice. In contrast, in men the incidence rates did not differ in various age groups and different weather seasons. Conclusion - distal forearm fractures are common in elderly urban population in Russia. Differences in season rates in male and female might result from different mechanisms of fall in men and women.

Aim: Study of the prevalence of basic osteoporotic fractures in the proximal femoral bone and distal forearm in persons aged more than 50 in Irkutsk region. Materialas and methods: Retrospective epidemiologic study aimed the prevalence of proximal femural and distal forearm fractures in patients aged more than 50 for 1992-1997 was carried out in 3 cities of Irkutsk region. Medical documentation of traumatological services and stations, medical care services and boarding houses was analyzed. Results: Femoral fractures prevalence in males was between 33.4 and 75/100,000 man/years of observation, being in median 61.7/100,000. Among females it fluctuated between 72.9 and 110.7, in median - 100.9/100,000. M:F was 1:2.4. Prevalence of femoral fractures increased at the age of 70 and more, reaching maximum after 80 - that is 577.6 in females and 259.5 in males/100,000. Distal forearm fractures prevailed in males by 2.4 times and by 7 times in females as compared with hip fractures. Forearm fractures prevalence was averagely 489.5/100,000 in the region (720.2 in females and 146.5 in males, p<0.0001). All age groups demonstrated reliably higher fracture prevalence in females. Increase of fracture prevalence in both sexes was noted after 65 years with decrease after 80 years.

Aim: Study offactors influencing on the fractures of proximal femur not connected with osteoporosis. Material and methods: Study is based on the simultaneous and prospective clinical-epidemiological study in patients of Yaroslavl aged 50 and more with proximal femoral fractures. Radiological method of assessment of femoral fractures followed by radiomorphological analysis of hip joints radiographs was used. Control group standardized by sex and age included persons without fractures and was numbered twice more than experimental group. Results: In 132 out of 133 cases the fractures were connected with falling down and only in one case with lifting the load. Accidental falling in males were reliably more frequent as compared with other reasons of falling (p=0.03). In females the fallings connected with cardiovascular diseases and cerebral disturbances reliably prevailed. Decreasing of points in psychodiagnostic test (MMST) lower than 24 is the risk factor of fallings (OP-3.022, p<0.01). Conclusion: Aside from osteoporotic process during femoral fractures one should consider other factors, such as anatomical peculiarities of proximal femur, body mass, height and concomitant diseases.

Aim: Study of osteoarthrosis epidemiology in native populations of the North rural areas. Material and methods: Study was carried out by complete epidemiologic examination among grown up native populations of the Republic of Saha (Yakutia) - yakuts and evenks in total number of 1216 persons. To put the diagnosis of osteoarthrosis the criteria developed at the Institute of Rheumatology of RAMS were used. Results: Osteoarthrosis prevalence in the examined sample was 18.0% including 9.4%) as definite and 8.6% as possible. Prevalence of the disease among males was practically twice lower than in females (12.6%) and 22.5% correspondingly, p<0.01). Definite correlation between the prevalence of osteoarthrosis and age was found. It was demonstrated that generalized form of the disease prevailed, and its quote was practically 74%> of cases and prevalent localizations except knee and wrist joints were elbow and shoulder joints.