Epidemiological investigation of adult single fractures of cuneiform in the east and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011 / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the epidemiological characteristics of adult single fractures of the cuneiform between the east and west areas in China from 2010 through 2011.Methods Thirty-five hospitals in the east coast area (group A) and 28 hospitals in the west inland area (group B) were selected for this investigation. The data of adult single fracture of the cuneiform treated between January 2010 and De-cember 2011 at the 63 hospitals were collected through the PACS system and medical records inquiry system. The epidemiological characteristics concerning age, gender and fracture classification were compared between the 2 groups. Results A total of 457 adult single fractures of the cuneiform were collected, involving 384 cases in group A and 73 cases in group B. They accounted respectively for 4.38% (384/8,772) and 3.53% (73/2, 068) of the adult tarsal bone fractures in the same period, showing no significant difference (P >0.05), accounted respectively for 1.71% (384/22, 455) and 1.15% (73/6, 354) of the adult foot frac-tures, showing a significant difference (P <0.05), and accounted respectively for 0.20% (384/192,991) and 0.09% (73/81, 143) of all the adult fractures, showing a significant difference (P <0.05). The median age was 39 years in group A (29, 50) and 36 years in group B (25, 45), showing a significant difference (P <0.05). The male to female ratio was 1.611 (237/147) for group A and 1.521 (44/29) for group B. The peak age range of the fracture for males was from 21 to 30 years old in both groups, and its proportion was 28.69% (68/237) in group A and 38.64% (17/44) in group B. The peak age range of the fracture for females was from 41 to 50 years old in both groups, and its proportion was 26.53% (39/147)in group A and 27.59% (8/29) in group B. All the above comparisons were statistically insignificant (P> 0.05). The proportion of the age group of≥61 years was significantly larger in group A than in group B (P <0.05). The high risk type of the fracture was type 85-A1 in both groups, and its proportion was 61.98% (238/384) in group A and 52.05% (38/73) in group B. The proportion of type 85-B1 was significantly larger in group B than in group A (P <0.05). Conclusions Adult single fractures of the cuneiform were more common in young and male patients. The proportion of elderly patients (≥61 years old) was significantly larger in the east area. The high risk type of the fracture was simple fracture involving the medial cuneiform bone (type 85-A) in both areas. The proportion of the comminuted fracture of the medial cuneiform (type 85-B1) was significantly larger in the west area.