Correlation between obesity and severity of distal radius fractures
C Acosta-Olivo1, J C Gonzalez-Saldivar1, G Villarreal-Villarreal1
1Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Monterrey, Mexico.
Introduction:
The incidence of obesity has increased significantly worldwide. Our hypothesis was that patients with obesity have a more severe distal radius fracture and we realized a study to evaluate this correlation between obesity and severity of distal radius fractures caused by low-energy injuries.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 114 patients with distal radius fracture were examined in a cross-sectional, observational study. Fractures were classified according to the international AO-Müller/Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification in order to determine the severity. The patient's Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and a Pearson correlation was performed.
Results:
The patients were predominantly female, and left side was more frequently affected. Most of the fractures were AO/OTA type A (71 patients). The majority of the involved patients in our study were overweighed or obese. We do not observe a direct correlation between grade of obesity and distal radius fracture severity.
Conclusions:
Based on the results of this study obesity and severity of distal radius fractures do not correlate.
Level Of Evidence:
Prognostic. Level IV.
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