Extensive Type II Muscle Fiber Atrophy in Elderly Female Hip Fracture Patients

Background: Sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass and strength, is known to increase the risk for falls and (hip) fractures in older people. The objective of this study was to assess the skeletal muscle fiber characteristics in elderly female hip fracture patients.Method: Percutaneous needle biopsies were collected from the vastus lateralis muscle in 15 healthy young women (20 +/- 0.4 years), 15 healthy elderly women (79 +/- 1.7 years), and 15 elderly women with a fall-related hip fracture (82 +/- 1.5 years). Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to assess Type I and Type II muscle fiber size, and myonuclear and satellite cell content.Results: Type II muscle fiber size was significantly different between all groups (pConclusion: Elderly female hip fracture patients show extensive Type II muscle fiber atrophy when compared with healthy young or agematched healthy elderly controls. Type II muscle fiber atrophy is an important hallmark of sarcopenia and may predispose to falls and (hip) fractures in the older population.