Analysis of regional features of the tibial plateau fractures in the Rostov region

Abstract

Background. The prevalence of tibial plateau fractures reaches 51.7 per 100,000 population per year, accounting for approximately 1% of all fractures, and is associated with the development of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis in 25-45% of cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the regional features, including frequency, structure, and outcomes, of S82.1 fractures. Methods. An anonymized sample was obtained from the regions database, covering the period from 2017 to 2021, using the ICD-10 codes S82.1, Z47.0, M17.2, and M17.3. Data Science principles and software were applied for analysis. Results. A total of 14,705 records were obtained. The average prevalence of tibial plateau fractures in the region was 24 per 100,000 population per year. The frequency of fractures was highest among the working-age population, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.02:1.00. There was a shift in the age group of knee osteoarthritis occurrence to individuals over 60 years old. Since 2018, a decrease in the number of fractures has been observed among elderly individuals. Out of the total sample, 1,017 patients were hospitalized, and 1,752 operations were performed. Open injuries accounted for 1.9% of cases, and the complication rate was 5.3%. Moderate correlations were found between open fractures, complicated course, and inpatient treatment costs (0.42r0.3). The probability of developing knee osteoarthritis within a five-year period was 0.0161. The average age of men with knee osteoarthritis was 517 years, while for women, it was 607 years. The younger age of osteoarthritis onset in men may be associated with a higher prevalence of severe fractures. The average cost of inpatient treatment increased from 26,533 rubles in 2017 to 34,682 rubles in 2021, significantly exceeding the cost of outpatient treatment. Conclusion. Tibial plateau fractures (S82.1) predominantly occur among economically active men. The decrease in the proportion of elderly individuals with fractures in the years 2019-2021 may be explained by a decrease in the elderly population in the region and the impact of pandemic-related restrictions. The compulsory health insurance system incurs the highest costs during inpatient care. It is advisable to include classification features of fractures according to the OA/OTA system in databases to facilitate more accurate planning and differentiation of treatment expenses.