Epidemiological investigation of adult single metatarsal fractures in the east areas and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011

Abstract

Objective To analyze and compare epidemiological characteristics of adult single metatarsal fractures between the east and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011. Methods Thirty-five hospitals in the east area (group A) and 28 hospitals in the west area (group B) participated in this epidemiological investigation of adult single metatarsal fractures treated from January 2010 through December 2011. Data concerning gender, age and fracture location and type were documented and compared between groups A and group B. Results There were 4, 779 fractures in group A and 1, 708 in group B, accounting for 21.28%(4, 779/22, 455) and 26.88%(1, 708/6, 354) of the adult foot fractures, and 2.48%(4, 779/192, 991) and 2.10%(1, 708/81, 143) of all the adult fractures, respectively, showing significant differences between the 2 groups (P 0.05). Conclusions The most common single metatarsal fracture was that of the fifth metatarsal bone and the fractures of proximal metatarsal bone accounted for the largest proportion in both the east and west areas. The west area had higher proportions of male patients and single metatarsal fracture than the east area. Key words: Metatarsal bones; Fractures, bone; Epidemiology; Adults