Epidemiology of talus fractures in Finland
Author Information
Author(s): Brushtein Evgenii, Partio Nikke, Huttunen Tuomas T., Repo Jussi P., Mäenpää Heikki, Mattila Ville M.
Primary Institution: Tampere University Hospital
Hypothesis
What is the incidence of talus fractures and the trends in operative treatment in Finland from 1997 to 2020?
Conclusion
The incidence of talar fractures in Finland has increased over the last decades, particularly among men, while the incidence of operations has remained stable.
Supporting Evidence
- 5247 patients with talar fractures were identified over 24 years.
- The mean incidence of talar fractures was 50.4 per 100,000 person-years.
- Incidence increased significantly starting in 2009, reaching 106.8 per 100,000 person-years in 2018.
- 69.6% of the patients were men, with the highest incidence in men aged 18 to 39.
- The proportion of operatively treated fractures decreased from 42.5% in 2009 to 12% in 2020.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many people in Finland broke their ankle bone (the talus) over 24 years and found that more people are getting these injuries, especially men.
Methodology
Data from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care was used to identify patients aged 18 and older with talar fractures from 1997 to 2020.
Potential Biases
The study relied on hospital data, which may not capture all talar fractures treated outside of hospitals.
Limitations
The study could not determine the laterality of fractures and may have missed some cases treated without hospitalization.
Participant Demographics
69.6% of the patients were men and 30.4% were women.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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