Epidemiological survey of adult proximal humeral fractures between the east and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011

Abstract

Objective To compare the epidemiological characteristics of adult proximal humeral fractures between the east and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011. Methods The data of adult proximal humeral fractures treated between January 2010 and December 2011 at 35 east hospitals and 28 west ones were analyzed retrospectively. The patients’ gender, age and AO classification were documented. The data from the 35 east hospitals were classified as group A while the data from the 28 west ones as group B. Comparisons were made between the 2 groups to find out the general epidemiological characteristics. Results A total of 9,279 adult proximal humeral fractures were collected. The total male/female ratio was 0.66∶1. The adult proximal humeral fractures predominated in an age range from 51 to 60 years (20.93%). There were 6,428 cases (69.27%) of type 11-A, 1,912 ones (20.61%) of type 11-B and 939 ones (10.12%) of type 11-C. The male/female ratio was 0.59∶1 in group A of 6,832 patients and 0.90∶1 in group B of 2,447 patients, showing a significant difference between groups (P< 0.05). The median age of group A (58 years) was significantly older than that of group B (52 years) (P< 0.05). The fractures predominated in the age range from 51 to 60 years in both groups, accounting for 22.03% and 17.86% respectively. The high-risk type was 11-A in both groups, accounting for 69.45% and 68.78% respectively. The differences in age distribution and AO type distribution were statistically significant between the 2 groups (P< 0.05). Conclusions The peak age of adult proximal humeral fractures was from 51 to 60 years, the high-risk type was 11-A and there were more female patients than male ones. As far as adult proximal humeral fractures in China from 2010 through 2011 were concerned, the proportion of female patients, median age and proportion of type 11-C in the east area were higher than in the west area. Key words: Shoulder fractures; Epidemiology studies; Small-area analysis; Sex distribution; Age distribution