Characteristics of distal radius fractures in east China-an observational cohort study of 1954 individual fractures

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing trends of distal radius fractures during 5 years, which gains insight into the incidence of the disease in the region. METHODS: Utilizing the medical imaging computer system (PACS), 1954 clinical records of radial radius fractures from patients treated at the affiliated hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected and analyzed for age, gender, side, osteoporosis status, and incidence of the season. RESULTS: there were a total of 1954 distal radius fractures, with 731 (37.4%) being male and 1223 (62.6%) being female (ratio 0.59:1), and the highest proportion was female. The median age was 56 years (range 1-102 years) with an average of 50.48 years, 1033 (52.7%) on the left side, 885 (45.1%) on the right side, and 36 (1.8%) on both sides, the left side being the highest. The age distribution was highest in the 61-70 year old group (23.9%, 467/1954), and the highest proportion in males was in the 11-20 year old group (23.8%, 174/731), and in females was in the 61-70 year old group (30.83%, 377/1223). In the 50 years and older group, there were 276 males and 991 females (ratio 1:3.59), with osteoporosis in 536 cases, accounting for 42.03% of the older fractures. The seasonal distribution was highest in summer and autumn (55.1%, 1076/1954). CONCLUSION: In east China, distal radius fractures were predominantly female and left-sided, with the highest proportion in the age group of 61-70 years and in summer and autumn（rainy season）.