Finger fractures: Epidemiology and treatment based on 21341 fractures from the Swedish Fracture register

Abstract

Background There is a lack of detailed epidemiological studies of finger fractures, the most common fracture of the upper extremity. Methods Based on data of 21 341 finger fractures in the Swedish Fracture register, a national quality registry that collects data on all fractures, this study describes anatomical distribution, cause, treatment, age distribution, and result in terms of patient related outcome measures (PROMs). Results The most common finger fracture was of the base of the 5th finger, followed by the distal phalanx in the 4th finger. Open fractures were most common in the distal phalanges, especially in the 3rd finger. Intraarticular fractures were most frequent in the middle phalanges. Fall accidents was the most common cause of a fracture. The mean age at injury was 40 years (38 for men, 43 for women). 86% of finger fractures in adults were treated non-operatively. Men were more frequently operated than women. Finger fractures did not affect hand function or quality of life and there were no relevant differences in PROMs between fracture type, treatment, or sex. Conclusion This study presents detailed information about the various types of finger fractures which can be used as point of reference in clinical work and for future studies.