Epidemiological comparison of adult clavicle fractures from 2010 to 2011 between Eastern and Western areas in China

Abstract

Objective To compare the epidemiological features of adult patients with clavicle fracture from 2010 through 2011 between the Eastern and Western areas in China. Methods The data of adult patients with clavicle fracture who had been treated from January 2010 through December 2011 at 63 hospitals in the Eastern and Western areas in China were collected through the PACS system and case reports checking system. The data from the 35 Eastern hospitals were classified as group A, and those from the 28 Western hospitals as group B. The analytic items included gender, age and Allman classification. Results A total of 10, 337 cases were collected. The mean age of the 7, 110 cases in Group A was 43. 82 ± 16. 14 years. Their peak age of fracture was from 41 to 50 years old. The male to female ratio in group A was 2. 37: 1. The mean age of the 3, 227 cases in Group B was 41. 14±15. 65 years. Their peak age of fracture was from 31 to 40 years old. The male to female ratio in group B was 2. 56: 1. There was no significant difference in male to female ratio between the 2 groups(P> 0. 05). The proportion of patients from 16 to 40 years old in group B was significantly higher than in group A; the proportion of patients from 50 to 70 was in group B was significantly lower than in group A(P< 0. 05). Of all the fractures, Allman type I accounted for 71. 95%, Allman type II for 24. 74%, and Allman type Ⅲ for 3. 32%. The proportions of Allman types I and Ⅲ in group A were significantly higher than in group B while the proportion of Allman type II in group A was significantly lower than in group B(P< 0. 05). Conclusions Most clavicle fractures occurred in male patients under 60 years old. Displaced or comminuted fractures of the mid clavicle were the most common. There were fewer young and middle-aged patients in the Eastern area than in the Western area but there were more elderly patients in Eastern area than in the Western area. Key words: Clavicle; Fractures, bone; Epidemiologic studies; Eastern area; Western area