Purpose This study aimed to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of fracture in the elderly during the COVID-19. Methods This was a retrospective multi-centre study, which included patients who sustained fractures between 20 January and 19 February 2020. The collected data included patients' demographics (age and gender), injury-related (injury type, fracture location, injury mechanism, places where fracture occurred), and treatment modality. SPSS 23.0 was used to describe the data and perform some analysis. Results A total of 436 patients with 453 fractures were included; there were 153 males and 283 females, with an average age of 76.2 years (standard deviation, SD, 7.7 years; 65 to 105). For either males or females, 70-74 years was the most commonly involved age group. A total of 317 (72.7%) patients had their fractures occurring at home. Among 453 fractures, there were 264 (58.3%) hip fractures, accounting for 58.3%. Fall from standing height was the most common cause of fracture, making a proportion of 89.4% (405/453). Most fractures (95.8%, 434/453) were treated surgically, and 4.2% (19/453) were treated by plaster fixation or traction. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) was the most used surgical method, taking a proportion of 49.2% (223/453).

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of preoperative DVT following spinal fracture and the association between the presence of DVT and risk factors. Ultrasonography and blood analyses were performed preoperatively in patients diagnosed with spinal fracture between October 2014 and December 2018. Univariate analyses were performed on the data of demographics, comorbidities, location of injury, spinal cord injury (SCI) grading and laboratory biomarkers. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to obtain the optimal D-dimer cut-off value for diagnosis. In total, 2432 patients with spinal fractures were included, among whom 108 (4.4%) patients had preoperative DVTs. The average interval between fracture and initial diagnosis of DVT was 4.7 days (median, 2 days), ranging from 0 to 20 days; 78 (72.2%) were diagnosed within 7 days after injury and 67 (62.0%) within 3 days; 19 (17.5%) patients had proximal vein involved and 89 (82.4%) presented in distal veins. Multivariate logistic regression suggested six risk factors independently correlated to DVT, including delay to DUS (in each day) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11), ASA class III–IV (OR = 2.36), ASIA grade (A/B) (OR = 2.36), ALB < 3.5 g/dL (OR = 2.08), HDL-C < 1.1 mmol/L (OR = 1.68) and d-Dimer > 1.08 µg/ml (OR = 2.49).

Background: This study was designed to investigate the incidence and hematological biomarker levels that are associated with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) following closed foot fractures (except calcaneal fractures). Methods: A retrospective analysis of data on patients presenting with closed foot fractures (excluding the calcaneus) between October 2014 and December 2018 was conducted. Duplex ultrasonography was used to screen preoperative DVT of bilateral lower extremities. Data on demographics, comorbidities, types of fracture, and laboratory biomarkers at admission were collected. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent risk factors associated with DVT. Results: A total of 537 patients were included, among whom 28 patients had preoperative DVTs, indicating a crude incidence rate of 5.2%. In isolated closed foot fractures, DVT occurred in 12 (2.9%) out of 410 patients, while in patients with concurrent fracture in other locations, 16 (12.6%) out of 127 patients developed DVT. The average interval between fracture occurrence and diagnosis of DVT was 4.2 days (median, 2 days), ranging from 0 to 17 days. Twenty-four patients (85.7%) developed DVT in the injured extremity, 3 (10.7%) in the uninjured extremity, and 1 (3.5%) in bilateral extremities. Seven risk factors were identified to be associated with DVT, including alcohol consumption, concomitant other fractures, platelet distribution width (PDW) <12%, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) <1.1mmol/L, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) >100 U/L, serum sodium concentration (Na+) <135 mmol/L, and D-dimer >0.5 mg/L. Conclusion: Being aware of the prevalence of DVT in closed foot fractures can help physicians to carry out the overall assessment, risk stratification, and individual prevention programs. Level of Evidence: Level III, a prospective cohort study.