Epidemiological survey of tibial plateau fractures in the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2009 to 2018

Abstract

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of all the patients with tibial plateau fracture admitted to the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University in the past 10 years. Methods The picture achieving and communication system was used to collect the general information and disease-related information from the hospitalized patients with tibial plateau fracture who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018. The patients from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013 were assigned into group A while those from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018 into group B. The 2 groups were compared to find out the epidemiological characteristics and trends of tibial plateau fractures in the past 10 years in gender, age, occupation, injury cause and Schatzker classification. Results A total of 1,936 patients with tibial plateau fracture were included in the study, including 1,352 males and 584 females with a male to female ratio of 2.32∶1. The peak age ranged from 50 to 59 years, with 40 to 49 years for males and 50 to 59 for females. There were 793 cases in group A (a male to female ratio of 1.89∶1) and 1,143 ones in group B (2.69∶1), showing a significant difference between the 2 groups in the male to female ratio (P<0.05). The peak age ranged from 40 to 49 years (25.09%, 199/793) in group A and from 50 to 59 years (23.27%, 266/1,143)in group B. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the constituent ratios of age groups from ≥50 years (P<0.05). Physical workers accounted for the highest proportion in group A (57.12%, 453/793) and group B (52.58%, 601/1,143). There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the constituent ratios of occupations (P<0.05). In all the 1,837 patients with a definite injury cause, the fall and indoor activity accounted for the highest proportion(41.92%, 770/1,837), the traffic accident(33.25%, 248/769) in group A did and the fall and indoor activity(48.88%, 522/1,068) in group B did too. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the injury causes (P<0.05). Of all the 1,658 patients with X-ray films available, by the Schatzker classification, types Ⅱ and Ⅵ were the most common. Type Ⅵ accounted for the highest proportion in group A (33.25%, 248/769) while type Ⅱ did in group B (48.88%, 522/1,068). There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the proportions of Schatzker types (P<0.05). Conclusions The tibial plateau fractures admitted to the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University in the past 10 years were more common in males than in females, and predominant in physical workers. Fall and indoor activity was the most common injury cause. Schatzker types Ⅱ and Ⅵ prevailed. The fractures showed an aging trend by comparing the former 5 years and the latter 5 years. Key words: Knee joint; Epidemiology; Age distribution; Gender distribution; Tibial plateau fracture