Epidemiological investigation of adult metatarsal fractures in the Third Affiliated Hospital to Hebei Medical University from 2003 through 2012

Abstract

Objective To analyze epidemiological features of the adult patients with metatarsal fractures treated in our hospital during the last 10 years.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of adult patients with metatarsal fractures who had been treated between January 2003 and December 2012 in our hospital.The patients' age,gender,fracture site and AO classification were documented.The data from January 2003 to December 2007 were put into group A and those from January 2008 to December 2012 into group B.The 2 groups were compared to find out the general epidemiological characteristics and trends of the recent 10 years.Results A total of 4,152 cases (4,168 sides) of metatarsal fracture were recorded,involving 2,583 males (2,592 sides) and 1,569 females (1,576 sides).High risk age of metatarsal fracture was 41 to 50 years (22.89％).By OA classification,of the 2,854 single-sided fractures,1,503 were of type 87-A,1,175 of type 87-B,and 176 of type 87-C.1,314 fractures were multiple.In group A,there were 1,949 fractures (1,955 sides) with a male/female ratio of 1.75 ∶ 1; in group B,there were 2,203 fractures (2,213 sides),with a male/female ratio of 1.56 ∶ 1.The male/female ratio was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).There was a significant difference in the mean age between group A (39.9±17.8years) andgroupB (41.4±15.1years) (P ＜0.05).Incidence of the 5th metatarsus fracture was the highest in both groups,showing no significant difference in fracture distribution.Compared with group A,group B had significantly more complex fractures(type 87-B and type 87-C) and multiple metatarsal fractures,and a significantly higher ratio of the 4th-5th metatarsal fractures (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Adult metatarsal fractures involved more males than females.The fractures predominated in young adults.Compared with the first 5 years,the second 5 years witnessed an increase in the total number of patients with metatarsal fracture,the mean age,the number of multiple metatarsal fractures and the injury severity. Key words: Metatarsal bones; Fractures, bone; Epidemiology; Adult