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n Feature Article
abstract
Population-Based Epidemiology of Tibial
Plateau Fractures
RASMUS ELSOE, MD; PETER LARSEN, MR; NINA PIL HOSTRUP NIELSEN, MD; JOHANNA SWENNE, BM;
STEN RASMUSSEN, MD; SVEND ERIK OSTGAARD, PHD, MD
Although epidemiologic studies of tibial plateau fractures have been conducted,
none have included geographically defined populations or a validated fracture clas-
sification based on computed tomography (CT). The goals of this study were to
provide up-to-date information on the incidence and basic epidemiology of tibial
plateau fractures in a large unselected patient population and to report the mecha-
nisms of injury involved and the distribution of fractures according to a validated
CT-based fracture classification. The authors conducted a population-based epide-
miologic study of all patients treated for tibial plateau fracture over a 6-year period
from 2005 to 2010. The study was based on an average background population of
576,364 citizens. A retrospective review of hospital records was performed. During
this time, a total of 355 patients were treated for tibial plateau fracture. This group
included 166 men and 189 women, and mean age was 52.6 years (SD, 18.3). The
most common fracture type was AO type 41-B3, representing 35% of all tibial
plateau fractures. The second most common fracture type was AO type 41-C3, rep-
resenting 17% of all tibial plateau fractures. The incidence of tibial plateau frac-
tures was 10.3 per 100,000 annually. Compared with women, men younger than
50 years had a higher incidence of fractures. The incidence of fractures increased
markedly in women older than 50 years but decreased in men older than 50 years.
In both sexes, the highest frequency was between the ages of 40 and 60 years. [Or-
thopedics. 2015; 38(9):e780-e786.]
The authors are from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery (RE, NPHN, JS, SR, SEO), the Depart-
ment of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy (PL), and the Department of Clinical Medicine (SR),
Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
The authors have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
This study was supported by unrestricted grants from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and
the Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg
University, Aalborg, Denmark.
Correspondence should be addressed to: Rasmus Elsoe, MD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, 18-22 Hobrovej, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark (rae@
rn.dk).
Received: September 26, 2014; Accepted: December 29, 2014.
doi: 10.3928/01477447-20150902-55
e780