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.