Trends in Wrist Fractures in Children and Adolescents, 1997–2009

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery (American ed.) Vol. 36; no. 11; pp. 1810 - 1815.e2
• Main Authors: de Putter, C.E., MD, van Beeck, E.F., MD, PhD, Looman, C.W.N., MSc, Toet, H., MD, Hovius, S.E.R., MD, PhD, Selles, R.W., PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Distribution; Athletic Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Athletic Injuries - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Carpal Bones - injuries; Child; Child, Preschool; Cohort Studies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Incidence; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Injury Severity Score; Male; Medical sciences; Netherlands - epidemiology; Orthopedics; population-based; Radiography; Radius Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Radius Fractures - epidemiology; Registries; Retrospective Studies; Sex Distribution; sports; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; trends; Ulna Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Ulna Fractures - epidemiology; wrist fractures; Wrist Injuries - diagnostic imaging; Wrist Injuries - epidemiology; Young Adult; sports; wrist fractures; population-based; trends; Incidence; Human; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Fracture; Epidemiology; Trauma; Wrist; Sport; Orthopedics; Adolescent; Child
• ISSN: 0363-5023; 1531-6564
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2011.08.006

Purpose Distal radius and carpal fractures in children and adolescents represent approximately 25% of all pediatric fractures. Incidence rates and causes of these fractures change over time owing to changes in activities and risk factors. The purpose of this study was to examine recent population-based trends in incidence and causes of wrist fractures in children and adolescents. Methods We obtained data from the Dutch Injury Surveillance System of emergency department visits of 15 geographically distributed hospitals, and from the National Hospital Discharge Registry. This included a representative sample of outpatients and inpatients, respectively. We calculated incidence rates of wrist fractures per 100,000 person-years for each year between 1997 and 2009. Using Poisson's regression, we analyzed trends for children and adolescents 5 to 9, 10 to 14, and 15 to 19 years of age separately for boys and girls. Results During the study period, incidence rates increased significantly in boys and girls 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 years of age, with the strongest increase in the age group 10 to 14 years. The observed increases were mainly due to increased incidence rates during soccer and gymnastics at school. Conclusions This population-based study revealed a substantial sports-related increase in the incidence rate of wrist fractures in boys and girls aged 5 to 9 and 10 to 14 years in the period 1997 to 2009. Clinical relevance With knowledge of the epidemiology of wrist fractures, prevention programs can be improved. From this study, we know that the incidence rate of wrist fractures in childhood is increasing, mainly as a result of soccer and gymnastics at school. Future sport injury research and surveillance data are necessary to develop new prevention programs based on identifying and addressing specific risk factors, especially in young athletes.