Fractures of the distal forearm in young adults. An epidemiologic description of 341 patients

We describe the epidemiology of all distal radial fractures in young adults (men 20-59 years, women 20-49 years) in Lund (1992-95) and Malmö (1994-95), Sweden. During the study period, there were 341 patients with 346 fractures in the two cities, found through the Hospital Register of Diagnoses in Lund and the register of the Radiology Department in Malmö. More than half of the fractures were dislocated and 2/3 of the cases involved the radiocarpal or radioulnar joints, in contrast to the predominantly extra-articular fractures in the elderly. There was an even distribution between sexes and the fractures were mainly caused by a severe trauma, i.e., more than a simple fall, most often sports injuries in January, February and May. Our findings suggest that distal radial fractures in nonosteoporotic young adults should be regarded as a special entity, at least in epidemiological studies. Possibly they also require treatment differing from that for osteoporotic fractures.