Long term trends in the incidence of distal radius fractures in Sindhudurg, west coast of Maharashtra Retrospective analysis of 1776 distal radius fractures (1989 to 1999), hospital based study

Abstract

The over all incidences related to age, gender with secular trends and seasonal variation in the catchment area of Sindhudurg, are reported in this study. This study included all the patients of distal radius fractures treated by the author at Government. hospital Kudal, Sindhudurg between 1989 to 1999. A retrospective analysis was done extracting the data from Government hospital OPD registers, indoor case papers, cross-checked with operation theatre, radiology files. Overall 1776 distal radius fractures conferred of which 692(39.0%) were women. The annual incidence was 1.41 for 1989 and 2.58 for 1999 per 10,000 inhabitants. There was an exponential increase in incidence of adolescents of 11 to 20 years [26(22.1%) in 1989 and 56(25.4%) in 1999] and between 51 to 70 years age group [37(31.4%) in 1989 and 82(37.2%) in 1999] in both genders. After 71 years there was gradual decline in incidence in both men and women. Low velocity injuries due to indoor and outdoor falling was the most common mechanism of injury in 1340(75.5%). Associated ulnar styloid fracture was seen in 912(51.3%). Surgical intervention was done in 522(57.2%) with ulnar styloid fracture and in 186(21.5%) with intact ulnar styloid.The annualincidence of distal radius fracture is consistently increasing over a decade time, much more so in adolescents. Men and women between 51 to 70 years had a higher risk of fracture than other groups. Low energy injuries were most predominant.