Epidemic characteristics of adult Barton's fractures between Western and Eastern of China from 2010 to 2011

Abstract

Objective: To compare and analyze the epidemiological features of adult patients with Barton's fractures between Western and Eastern in China. Methods: The data of adult patients with Barton's fractures treated from January 2010 to December 2011 in 63 hospitals in Western and Eastern of China were collected through the picture archiving and communication systems (PACs) and case reports checking system. The data of 28 hospitals in Western China were classified as group Western, while data of 35 hospitals in Eastern China were classified as group Eastern, and the analytic items included gender, age and age distribution. The counting data were tested by chi-square test, and the measurement data were compared with the corresponding statistical methods according to the normality. Results: A total of 1 191 cases were collected, accounted for 4.0% of all the distal radius fracture (1 191/29 825). The total male/female ratio was 1∶1.02. The adult Barton's fractures predominated in an age range from 51 to 60 years (21.4%). There were 736 cases of volar Barton's fractures (61.8%), and 455 cases of dorsal Barton's fractures (38.2%). The patients were divided into group Western (403 cases) and group Eastern (788 cases) respectively. There were 222(55.1%) males and 181(44.9%) females in group Western, while 368(46.7%) males and 420(53.3%) females in group Eastern (χ(2)=7.502, P<0.05). The median age of the two groups were 44(16-94) years and 51(16-91) years (Z=-5.079, P<0.05). Cases of volar and dorsal Barton's fractures in group Western were 238 and 165 cases, while there were 498 and 290 cases in Group Eastern (χ(2)=1.937, P>0.05). Conclusions: The peak age of adult Barton's fractures is from 51 to 60 years with more female patients than male. Volar Barton's fractures outnumbers dorsal type. In Western China, the majority are male patients, which differs from Eastern. The patient age in Western China is significantly lower than it in Eastern.