Epidemiological investigation of adult femoral neck fractures in the east coast and west inland areas in China from 2010 through 2011

Abstract

Objective To compare epidemiological characteristics of adult femoral neck fractures between the east coast and west inland areas in China from 2010 through 2011. Methods Four hospitals in the east coast area (group A) and 4 hospitals in the west inland area (group B) were selected. The data of adult femoral neck fractures treated between January 2010 and December 2011 at the 8 hospitals were collected through the PACS system and medical records inquiry system. The data were assigned into 3 age groups: young group (from 16 to 45 years), middle-aged group (from 46 to 65 years) and elderly group (≥ 66 years). Analytic items included gender, age and Garden type. Comparisons were made between groups A and B. Results There were 1, 251 adult femoral neck fractures in group A and 928 in group B, accounting for 50.55% (1, 251 /2, 475) and 51.36% (928/1, 807) of the adult proximal femoral fractures, and 3.29% (1, 251/38, 060) and 2.84% (928/32, 623) of all the adult fractures, respectively. There were significant differences between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The ratio of male to female was 0.45: 1 in group A and 0.88: 1 in group B, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). The average age was 68.8±16.5 years in group A and 64.9±18.2 years in group B, also showing a significant difference (P < 0.05). The elderly group in both groups had the highest proportion of femoral neck fractures (63.55% in group A versus 58.19% in group B) but there was a significant difference between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The prevailing fracture type was Garden type III in both groups (60.60% in group A versus 71.98% in group B), but there was also a significant difference between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). Conclusions The adult femoral neck fractures in the east coast and west inland areas accounted for 50.55% and 51.36% of the adult proximal femoral fractures, and 3.29% and 2.84% of all the adult fractures, respectively. The east coast area witnessed higher proportions of female and elderly patients and patients with a higher average age than the west inland area, but lower proportions of young and Garden type III patients. Key words: Femoral neck fractures; Epidemiology; Case-control studies; Adult