Epidemiology of Ankle Fractures in Korea: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

The epidemiology of geriatric fractures: A nationwide analysis of 1 million fractures

OBJECTIVE

Fractures among the geriatric population impose a substantial burden on healthcare systems. This study aims to investigate the incidence and distribution of fractures among geriatric individuals over seven years, analyzing changes by age and sex. The findings will inform national healthcare strategies for addressing the growing impact of geriatric fractures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electronic health records from a nationwide personal health records system were analyzed, focusing on ICD-10 codes for fractures. Recurrent codes for the same patients within three months were excluded. Patients were categorized into three age groups (65-74, 75-84, and 85+ years), and fractures were grouped anatomically. Incidence rates for specific fracture locations were calculated based on the actual population at risk annually. Incidence rates were further stratified by sex and age groups using Turkey's age- and sex-specific populations.

RESULTS

A total of 1,004,663 geriatric fractures (66.9 % female, 33.1 % male) were identified over seven years. The overall fracture incidence among the geriatric population was 1.9 % (1910/100,000). Hip fractures were the most common (25.2 %), followed by wrist (15 %) and lumbar-pelvic fractures (11.9 %). Femur fractures were predominant in the 75-84 and 85+ age groups, while wrist fractures were more common in the 65-74 age group. Fracture incidences generally increased with age, except for ankle, foot, and toe fractures, which decreased with age for both sexes (p < 0.05). The male/female ratio was lowest for wrist, elbow, and humeral shaft fractures (1:3.2, 1:2.7, and 1:2.7, respectively). The lowest overall fracture incidence was observed in 2020 (1568/100,000), while the highest was in 2017 (2523/100,000).

CONCLUSION

With Turkey's aging population, the socioeconomic impact of geriatric fractures is anticipated to rise. Fracture patterns and incidence vary by age and sex among geriatric individuals. These findings provide valuable insights for healthcare planning and the development of community-based preventive measures tailored to specific fracture locations and demographics.

Functional assessment and influencing factors after staged functional training in patients with ankle fractures

BACKGROUND

The recovery of limb function after ankle fracture surgery is a gradual process. The main purpose of implementing early functional exercise, joint mobility, muscle contraction function, passive ankle flexion and extension exercises, or physical factor therapy techniques is to achieve the rapid recovery of normal physiological limb function. However, currently the most effective rehabilitation training method is staged limb functional exercise, which promotes rapid recovery of limb function while preventing adverse consequences caused by overwork or insufficient training. Staged limb functional exercise divides the rehabilitation process into multiple stages, each of which has specific training objectives and contents. This method helps patients gradually restore limb function. Nevertheless, some patients still exhibit poor limb function after standardized exercise. Therefore, a functional evaluation should be performed to analyze the impact of staged functional training after ankle fracture surgery.

AIM

To perform a functional evaluation and determine the influencing factors of staged functional training in patients with ankle fracture.

METHODS

A retrospective study enrolled 150 patients who underwent surgical treatment for ankle fracture from May 2020 to May 2022 at our hospital. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed on general data, functional exercise compliance scale for orthopedic patients, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score, and pain factors [serum bradykinin (BK), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)].

RESULTS

Based on the AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot Scale, the cases were divided into the excellent function (n = 111) and ordinary function (n = 39) groups. Univariate analysis revealed that monthly family income, education level, diabetes mellitus, functional exercise compliance scale of orthopedic patients score, SSRS, BK, PGE2, and 5-HT significantly influenced limb function after ankle fracture (P < 0.05); Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the functional exercise compliance scale score, SSRS, BK, PGE2, and 5-HT were independent risk factors affecting functional performance after staged functional exercise (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Exercise compliance, SSRS, and pain level are the independent risk factors affecting functional performance after staged functional training following ankle surgery. Clinical nursing care after ankle surgery should include analgesic and health education measures to ensure optimal recovery of limb function.

Factors Associated With Adverse Radiographic Outcomes Following Operative Management of Ankle Fractures: A Single-Center Study

Introduction Ankle fractures are commonly encountered fractures in emergency departments worldwide. These fractures often have significant articular involvement that requires anatomic surgical reduction and stabilization. Radiographs can be used in everyday practice to evaluate ankle fractures utilizing various parameters to assess reduction quality intraoperatively and postoperatively. Several factors have been found to influence the reduction quality of fractures across body regions. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the influence of several factors on the reduction quality of ankle fractures in a tertiary care center in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Materials and methods A total of 462 records were identified during the search, and 68 records were excluded. A total of 394 ankle fractures met the inclusion criteria for the study. Five orthopedic surgeons then evaluated the operative films in accordance with the Delphi consensus parameters for evaluating ankle fractures, and the reductions were graded as good, adequate, or poor. Results The study included 394 ankle fractures that met the inclusion criteria, and four significant associations were noted to affect the quality of reduction. Ankle fractures with posterior malleolus involvement (PMI) were significantly associated (p = 0.001) with fragments smaller than 15% and larger than 20% having decreased outcomes. The number of days from admission to operation was also significant (p = 0.009), with the best reductions observed between zero and one day from admission. Operating surgeon was also a significant factor (p = 0.038), with inferior reductions noted in specialist surgeons compared to trainees. The last significant association was the number of malleoli (p = 0.001), with an inferior reduction with a larger number of malleoli involved. Conclusion Ankle fractures are a common and significant orthopedic injury. Reduction quality is important for optimal outcomes after surgical stabilization. Various factors including the number of malleoli, the grade of the operating surgeon, and the time of surgery were significantly related to the quality reduction in this single-center study. Expedited surgical management of fractures that are amenable to early fixation, careful assessment, and meticulous technique in fixation of fractures with multiple fractured malleoli is indicated to reduce the chance of malreduction particularly in complex injuries. Further assessment of factors related to reduction quality with large-scale prospective studies would provide orthopedic surgeons with insights into the identification and optimal treatment of such fractures.

Comparison of plate versus screw internal fixation in the treatment of posterior malleolar fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Treatment of posterior malleolar fracture with plate or screw fixation is still controversial. Plate fixation is considered to have better stability but more soft tissue damage; screw fixation is less invasive and may yields lesser blood loss and surgery time. We conducted this meta-analysis to explore intraoperative and postoperative efficacy between plate and screw fixation in posterior malleolar fractured patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Random-effects model and 95% confidence intervals was used. The outcomes of interest were surgery time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS), bone healing time, full weight bearing time, off bed ambulation time, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), complication rate, and rate of use of syndesmosis screw etc. RESULTS: One randomized clinical trial and fifty-two retrospective cohort studies with a total of 3757 patients (1956 in screw group and 1801 in plate group) were included in the systematic review. Compared to screw group, plate group yielded significantly longer surgery time, more intraoperative blood loss, but shorter length of hospital stay, better AOFAS, better Baird Jackson score, better AOFAS and Baird Jackson excellent-good rate, shorter bone healing time, shorter time enabling full weight bearing, shorter time enabling off bed ambulation, lesser postoperative pain, lesser complication rate, lesser loosening rate, lesser malunion rate, and lesser postoperative osteoarthritis.

CONCLUSIONS

Plate fixation is a favorable alternative to screw fixation in posterior malleolar fractured patients. Although plate fixation was at risk of longer surgery time and more blood loss, it provided better postoperative functional outcome, shorter healing, weight bearing and off bed ambulation time and lesser pain compared to screw fixation.