[Epidemiology of fractures in Chile].

Bone fractures represented 3.3% of diagnosis among 1,003,267 patients discharged from National Health System Hospitals in Chile during 1985. Among 73,534 certified deaths, 1.2% followed fractures. Significantly higher rates were observed in males; after age 75, fractures were more common in females. Rates per 100,000 for different fractures were: radio-cubital 45.4, shine and fibula 41, ankle 28.1, humerus 25.3, and hip 23.5. Among males the figures were shine and fibula 66.2, radius and cubitus 64.9, face 37.5 and ankle 37.1. Among females, hip 28.2, radius and cubitus 26.3, ankle 19.3 and humerus 16.5. Hip fracture is clearly related to age, the incidence raising from below 60 per 100,000 under age 60 to 617 in females and 330 in males above that age. Other fractures that increase with age include radius and cubitus, shine and fibula, ankle, humerus and femur.