Epidemiology of distal radius fractures in Iceland in 1985

Between March 1985 and March 1986, 249 fractures of the distal radius in patients over 15 years of age were treated in the Reykjavik area, which had a total at risk population of 100,154. The incidence pattern was similar to what has been reported in recent Nordic studies except that the fracture risk of women was lower than in Oslo in 1979 and Malmö in 1980-81, and for men higher than in Fredriksborg in 1981. Fifty-seven percent of the patients had employment at the time of accident. The majority of accidents happened outdoors, especially on sidewalks and in streets, and were more common during the winter months.