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Incidence and demographics of hand fractures in British Columbia, Canada: a population-based study
Lynne M Feehan1, Samuel B Sheps
1Department of Orthopaedics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Feehan@interchange.ubc.ca
Insights
Hand fracture incidence rates in British Columbia show variations by age, gender, season, and location. Young males and older females are at higher risk, with spring and northern regions experiencing more fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hand fractures are common injuries requiring treatment.
- Understanding incidence rates and risk factors is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine annual incidence rates of hand fractures in British Columbia.
- To investigate demographic, seasonal, and geographic variations in hand fracture occurrence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized comprehensive health records (Medical Service Plan and Hospital Separation) from British Columbia.
- Included International Classification of Diseases-9 codes for metacarpal, phalangeal, and multiple fractures.
- Linked demographic data to identify population-based incidence.
Main Results:
- Identified 72,481 hand fractures over a 5-year period.
- Overall incidence was 36 per 10,000 population annually.
- Higher rates observed in younger individuals (under 20), males (15-40), and females over 65. Spring and northern regions showed increased risk.
Conclusions:
- This study offers a robust estimate of hand fracture incidence in a large population.
- Age, gender, season, and geographic location significantly influence hand fracture rates.
- Findings can inform targeted prevention strategies and healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose:
To identify population-based hand fracture annual incidence rates, demographics, and seasonal and geographic variations from all patients seeking treatment for a hand fracture in British Columbia, Canada from May 1, 1996 to April 20, 2001.
Methods:
All Medical Service Plan and Hospital Separation records that included International Classification of Diseases-9 codes for metacarpal (815), phalangeal (816), and multiple (817) fractures were extracted from the British Columbia Linked Health Dataset, along with the individual registry demographic records linked to each hand fracture.
Results:
A total of 72,481 hand fractures were identified. Fifty percent were phalangeal fractures, 42% were metacarpal fractures, and 8% were multiple fractures. The total population annual incidence rate for a hand fracture was 36 per 10,000. Age-adjusted annual incidence rates ranged from 29 per 10,000 for people older than 20 years to 61 per 10,000 for people age 20 or younger. The most common age for a hand fracture was 14 years for males and 13 years for females. Males had a 2.08 greater relative risk for hand fracture and they maintained most of this increase in risk between the ages of 15 and 40. For females there was an increased relative risk for a hand fracture after the age of 65. Spring had the highest rates for hand fractures. People in the Northern half of the province had a 1.6 greater relative risk for sustaining a hand fracture, compared with people in the more urbanized, less-industrialized, and more-affluent Southwestern region.
Conclusions:
Our study provides a robust projection of annual incidence rates for hand fractures because we were able to review all occurrences of a hand fracture within a population base of approximately 4 million people over a 5-year period. Our study also allowed for the examination of how age, gender, season, and geographic location influenced hand fracture incidence rates within a large, diverse population.
