Epidemiological investigation and analysis of supracondylar femoral fractures from 2010 through 2014 in The Third Affiliated Hospital to Hebei Medical University

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiologic al features and trends of supracondylar femoral fractures in The Third Affiliated Hospital to Hebei Medical University during a five-year period from 2010 through 2014. Methods The data of supracondylar femoral fractures treated between January 2010 and December 2014 at our hospital were collected through the PACS system and case reports checking system. Their gender, age, fracture side, fracture type, basic demographics, injury causes, operative factors and treatments were analyzed. Results A total of 218 supracondylar femoral fractures were treated, involving 125 males and 93 females(with a male to female ratio of 1. 34∶1). The number of the patients increased year by year from 2010 through 2014. The peak age was from 41 to 50 years in males(25. 26%)and from 51 to 60 years in females(24. 66%). The male to female ratio was 0.79∶1 in the patients over 50 years old. The proportions of famer patients(119, 54. 59%), urban patients(131, 60. 09%), and spring patients(70, 32. 11%)were high. Traffic injury(57. 34%)and high-energy trauma(76. 61%)accounted for the highest proportions. The average age of patients with low-energy injury(fallings)was significantly older than for those with high-energy trauma(P< 0. 05). AO type 33-A3 accounted the largest proportion of the fractures(61. 93%). The most common treatments for the supracondylar femoral fractures were open reduction and internal fixation(88. 07%)and fixation with femoral condylar plate(83. 94%). The most common surgical approach was through the femoral distal lateral one(88. 53%). Conclusions Supracondylar femoral fractures predominated in males 41 to 50 years old and in females 51 to 60 years old. There were more female patients over 50 years old. The fracture occurred more in farmers and in the spring season. Most fractures were AO type 33-A3. High-energy trauma like traffic injury was the main cause. The fractures were mostly treated by open reduction and internal fixation, and femoral condylar plating as well, via the femoral distal lateral approach. Key words: Femoral fractures; Epidemiology; Gender distribution; Age distribution