Incidence of fractures requiring inpatient care |
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| Authors: | Axel Somersalo Juha Paloneva Hannu Kautiainen Eija L?nnroos Mikko Hein?nen Ilkka Kiviranta |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Helsinki;2.Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Central Finland Hospital, Jyväskylä;3.Unit of Primary Health Care, Helsinki University Central Hospital;4.Department of General Practice, University of Helsinki;5.Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Geriatrics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio;6.Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundThe overall incidence of fractures has been addressed in several studies, but there are few data on different types of fractures that require inpatient care, even though they account for considerable healthcare costs. We determined the incidence of limb and spine fractures that required hospitalization in people aged ≥ 16 years.Patients and methodsWe collected data on the diagnosis (ICD10 code), procedure code (NOMESCO), and 9 additional characteristics of patients admitted to the trauma ward of Central Finland Hospital between 2002 and 2008. Incidence rates were calculated for all fractures using data on the population at risk.Results and interpretationDuring the study period, 3,277 women and 2,708 men sustained 3,750 and 3,030 fractures, respectively. The incidence of all fractures was 4.9 per 103 person years (95% CI: 4.8–5.0). The corresponding numbers for women and men were 5.3 (5.1–5.4) and 4.5 (4.3–4.6). Fractures of the hip, ankle, wrist, spine, and proximal humerus comprised two-thirds of all fractures requiring hospitalization. The proportion of ankle fractures (17%) and wrist fractures (9%) was equal to that of hip fractures (27%). Four-fifths of the hospitalized fracture patients were operated. In individuals aged < 60 years, fractures requiring hospitalization were twice as common in men as in women. In individuals ≥ 60 years of age, the opposite was true.Inpatient hospital treatment of fractures is significantly more expensive than outpatient fracture treatment (Cummings and Melton 2002). In most cases, the costs are increased if surgery is needed (Bouee et al. 2006). Thus, preventing fractures that commonly require surgical treatment is cost effective. However, except for hip fractures, there has been little research on the incidence of fractures requiring inpatient care, and the current profile of fractures sustained by adults admitted to trauma units is unknown. This profile is likely to differ from the overall fracture profile in a population. We determined the incidence of limb and spine fractures that require hospitalization in individuals aged ≥ 16 years. |
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