Review of Distal Radius Fracture in The Emergency Department of Baghdad Technical Hospital

Background

Wrist injuries are common, accounting for 2.5% of emergency department visits annually; distal radius fractures (DRFs) are among the most common types of fracture, have a bimodal distribution, with a peak in younger (aged 18-25 y) and older (>65 y) persons.

Aim of study:

To study the distal radius fracture characteristics and classification among a sample of Iraqi patients visited the emergency department in Baghdad Teaching Hospital.

Patients and methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the surgical emergency department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period from January 1st, 2013, to the 1st of 2013 to November 1, 2013. Forty patients (18 males and 22 females), their ages ranged between 8 -70 years, all with distal radius fracture, were selected regardless of their age or gender. Patients who had other types of fractures other than distal radius fractures, complicated traumatic injury, and were unconscious or refused to participate were excluded. Data were collected through full history and clinical examination of the patients by using a pre-constructed data collection sheet. Plane X-rays in all patients and laboratory investigations were performed accordingly. Management was performed under the supervision of the orthopedic residents,

The mean age of patients was 46.5 18.8 years, and the peak incidence (35%) was among patients aged 60. Right hand was the dominant injury side (92.5%), a housewife was 52.5% of the total patients, Diabetic was 57.5%,

FOSH, RTA, and sports injuries were the mechanisms of injuries in (72.5%,15%, and 12.5%), respectively. Regarding the AO classification, 23 A2 in 30%, 23A3 in 17.5%, 23 B1 class in 15%, and the least frequent was 23C3 in only one patient (2.5%). Females were significantly more likely to have class 23 A2 rather than males, 50 % vs. 5.6% respectively; in the contrary, males were more likely to have 23 A3 and 23 C2 class rather than females, P-0.009.

No statistically significant correlation had been found between the AO classification and age, history of chronic diseases, or mechanism of injury in all Comparisons P>0.05.

Conclusions:

Distal radius fracture incidence increased with the advancing age and the peak in elderly > 60 years. More common in females than males. Right-sided fractures are more frequent. According to the AO classification, males had more sever fractures than females.