Dinh Peter V, Reiad Timothy A, Khan Haneef A, Gil Joseph A
Department of Orthopaedics, Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, United States; University Orthopedics, East Providence, RI 02914, United States.
Department of Orthopaedics, Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, United States; University Orthopedics, East Providence, RI 02914, United States.
Hand Surg Rehabil. 2025 Sep;44(4):102205. doi: 10.1016/j.hansur.2025.102205. Epub 2025 Jun 12.
Finger fractures are among the most common upper extremity injuries, with significant functional and socioeconomic implications. While prior studies have described the general epidemiology of finger fractures, there is limited data on longitudinal trends, digit-specific patterns, and differences in injury mechanisms by demographic groups in the United States.
A retrospective analysis was performed using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database to estimate national trends in finger fracture incidence from 2004 to 2023. Cases were identified using specific diagnosis and body part codes, with narrative keyword filtering to determine the affected digit. Demographic variables, injury mechanisms, and annual incidence rates were analyzed. Trends were assessed using linear regression, and differences between groups were evaluated with Odds Ratios and Injury Proportion Ratios.
A total of 109,317 finger fractures were reported over the twenty-year study period, representing a nationally estimated 3,693,924 finger fractures. The average annual incidence was 59.0 per 100,000 person-years. Males accounted for 65.4% of total cases, with a male-to-female incidence ratio of approximately 2:1. The thumb (26.42%) and little finger (26.15%) were the most frequently fractured digits, followed by the ring finger (15.29%), middle finger (14.53%), and index finger (12.06%). The most common causes were football (11.7%), basketball (11.5%), and doors (9.8%). There was a 46% decline in emergency department finger fracture rates from 2004 to 2023 (p < .01), driven primarily by reductions in the 0-18 and 19-40 age groups. Rates in adults over 40 remained stable.
This comprehensive, longitudinal analysis demonstrates a significant decline in emergency department finger fracture incidence in the United States over the past two decades, with notable demographic and mechanistic patterns. These findings highlight the importance of age- and activity-specific prevention strategies, continued surveillance, and targeted interventions to further reduce the burden of finger fractures, particularly among vulnerable populations such as older adults and children.
手指骨折是上肢最常见的损伤之一，具有重大的功能和社会经济影响。虽然先前的研究描述了手指骨折的总体流行病学情况，但关于美国手指骨折的纵向趋势、特定手指模式以及不同人口群体损伤机制差异的数据有限。
使用国家电子伤害监测系统（NEISS）数据库进行回顾性分析，以估计2004年至2023年手指骨折发病率的全国趋势。通过特定诊断和身体部位代码识别病例，并使用叙述性关键词筛选来确定受影响的手指。分析人口统计学变量、损伤机制和年发病率。使用线性回归评估趋势，并通过优势比和损伤比例比评估组间差异。
在为期20年的研究期内，共报告了109,317例手指骨折，全国估计有3,693,924例手指骨折。年平均发病率为每10万人年59.0例。男性占总病例的65.4%，男女发病率之比约为2:1。拇指（26.42%）和小指（26.15%）是最常发生骨折的手指，其次是无名指（15.29%）、中指（14.53%）和食指（12.06%）。最常见的原因是足球（11.7%）、篮球（11.5%）和门（9.8%）。从2004年到2023年，急诊科手指骨折率下降了46%（p <.01），主要是由于0 - 18岁和19 - 40岁年龄组的下降。40岁以上成年人的骨折率保持稳定。
这项全面的纵向分析表明，在过去二十年中，美国急诊科手指骨折发病率显著下降，呈现出显著的人口统计学和机制模式。这些发现凸显了针对年龄和活动的预防策略、持续监测以及有针对性干预措施的重要性，以进一步减轻手指骨折的负担，特别是在老年人和儿童等弱势群体中。
