Zhang James, Bradshaw Florence, Hussain Ishrat, Karamatzanis Ioannis, Duchniewicz Michal, Krkovic Matija
School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, GBR.
Department of Internal Medicine and General Surgery, Basildon University Hospital, Basildon, GBR.
Cureus. 2024 Mar 20;16(3):e56581. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56581. eCollection 2024 Mar.
Understanding the epidemiology and incidence of fractures can help inform policymakers and clinicians about the needs of the population and highlight trends over time, allowing for tailoring of healthcare delivery to the population. This study reports on the lower limb fractures treated at a major trauma centre over a seven-year period.
We collected data on fracture locations, age, gender, BMI, hospital admission length, and treatment options of all lower limb fractures treated at a level I trauma centre from January 2015 to December 2021. We included data on the femur, tibia, and fibula, which were each split up into distinct regions. Fractures were subdivided by location and graphed, separated by gender, over age group. Finally, each location area's frequency was graphed over the entire study period.
A total of 8,511 patients sustained 8,613 fractures, given an overall incidence of 215.9 fractures per 100,000 patients per year. The mean age was 62.3 years, and 56.3% of patients were female. Fractures of the peri trochanteric region of the femur had the highest mean average age (79.9 years), which was closely followed by fractures of the head and neck of the femur (78.2 years). Fractures of the head and neck of the femur and the peri trochanteric region of the femur also had the highest proportion of females suffering from these fractures (67 and 66% female, respectively). Femur shaft fractures had the lowest average age (36.5 years) and the lowest proportion of female patients (29%). On graphing by location, separated by gender, over age group, overall fractures showed a bi-peak distribution of younger males and older, post-menopausal females having their respective peaks. Three further distinct distributions were observed in individual location fractures.
Identifying the relative incidence and demographic associations with lower limb fractures helps highlight a changing population's needs. There is an absence of such study in literature in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2006. Our study's insights and results aid clinicians and policymakers in the creation of guidelines and the distribution of resources based on the most recent information and elucidate changing healthcare service needs for the population.
了解骨折的流行病学和发病率有助于告知政策制定者和临床医生人群的需求，并突出随时间推移的趋势，从而使医疗服务能够根据人群需求进行调整。本研究报告了一家主要创伤中心在七年期间治疗的下肢骨折情况。
我们收集了2015年1月至2021年12月在一级创伤中心治疗的所有下肢骨折的骨折部位、年龄、性别、体重指数、住院时间和治疗选择等数据。我们纳入了股骨、胫骨和腓骨的数据，每个部位又进一步细分为不同区域。骨折按部位细分并绘图，按性别和年龄组分开。最后，在整个研究期间绘制每个部位的骨折频率图。
共有8511名患者发生了8613处骨折，总体发病率为每年每10万名患者215.9处骨折。平均年龄为62.3岁，56.3%的患者为女性。股骨转子周围区域骨折的平均年龄最高（79.9岁），其次是股骨头颈骨折（78.2岁）。股骨头颈骨折和股骨转子周围区域骨折的女性患者比例也最高（分别为67%和66%）。股骨干骨折的平均年龄最低（36.5岁），女性患者比例最低（29%）。按性别和年龄组分开绘制骨折部位图时，总体骨折显示出双峰分布，年轻男性和绝经后老年女性分别达到峰值。在个别部位的骨折中还观察到另外三种不同的分布。
确定下肢骨折的相对发病率和人口统计学关联有助于突出不断变化的人群需求。自英国（UK）2006年以来，文献中缺乏此类研究。我们研究的见解和结果有助于临床医生和政策制定者根据最新信息制定指南和分配资源，并阐明人群不断变化的医疗服务需求。
