Decreasing incidence of tibial shaft fractures between 1998 and 2004 : information based on 10,627 Swedish inpatients

• Background and purpose There is a lack of national epidemiological data on the characteristics of patients with tibial shaft fractures. We therefore analyzed data on Swedish patients with tibial shaft fractures in this nationwide population study based on data from 1998 through 2004. Methods Data on all patients with tibial shaft fractures were extracted from the Swedish National Hospital Discharge Register. Results We identified 10,627 hospital admissions for tibial shaft fractures, corresponding to an annual incidence rate of 17 per 100,000 person-years (pyr). The number of hospital admissions decreased by 12% during the period 1998-2004, mostly from a reduction in male incidence. The median (SD) age at admission was 28 (22) years for men and 51 (26) years for women. The two major mechanisms of injury were falls on the same level (48%) and transport accidents (21%). Surgical procedures were dominated by osteosynthesis with nail (48%), followed by closed reduction and plaster cast (27%), and external fixation (12%). 12% of all tibial shaft fractures were classified as open, corresponding to an incidence rate of 2.3 per 100,000 pyr, which declined during 1998-2004. Interpretation This nationwide study of tibial shaft fractures shows a falling off of fracture incidence, a finding that can be used to advantage by healthcare providers.   In a recent review, the annual incidence of tibial shaft fractures was reported to be 22 per 100,000 inhabitants (Court-Brown and Caesar 2006). To date, rather few epidemiological studies have been undertaken to examine the incidence of this injury (Knowelden et al. 1964, Bengner et al. 1990, Donaldson et al. 1990, Court-Brown and McBirnie 1995, Emami et al. 1996, Singer et al. 1998, van Staa et al. 2001), and with varying results. Most of the earlier epidemiological studies were retrospective or case series from single hospitals, and prior to the present study no analyses on a nationwide basis had been undertaken.Basic epidemiological data on frequency and distribution, mechanisms of injury, surgical procedures, and on temporal variations are of importance in assisting the planning and delivery of healthcare. The purpose of this investigation was to provide an update on incidence, admissions, causes of fracture, and operation of these fractures on a nationwide basis in Sweden during the period 1998-2004.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kirurgi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Surgery (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Adolescent

Adult

Aged

Child

Female

Fracture Fixation/methods

Humans

Incidence

Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data

Male

Middle Aged

Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data

Registries

Sweden/epidemiology

Tibial Fractures/*epidemiology/etiology/surgery

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Surgery

Kirurgi

Orthopaedics

Ortopedi

Ortopedi

Orthopaedics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)