The epidemiology of sports-related fractures of the hand

Objective: To describe the incidence and epidemiology of acute sports-related hand fractures in the adult general population. Design: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database recording all inpatient and outpatient fractures in a welt-defined population during 2000. Setting: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK. Results: During 2000, 1430 hand fractures were recorded, 320 of which (22.4%) were sports injuries. Mates were more commonly injured (86%). The overall incidence was 60/10(5) (104/10(5) among mates and 17/10(5) among females). The average age was 24 years. There were 39 (12.2%) carpal, 108 (33.8%) metacarpal and 173 (54.1%) phalangeal fractures. Damage to the first and fifth rays was most common. Open fractures were uncommon (n = 7; 2.2%). Eight sports were responsible for 87.8% of fractures, each sport displaying a characteristic pattern of injury within the hand. The majority of fractures (87.2%) were treated on an outpatient basis. Conclusions: Sporting activity accounts for 22.4% of all hand fractures, with relatively few requiring operative intervention. Young mates are most commonly affected. Certain sports are associated with distinct fracture patterns, allowing appropriate preventive measures to be taken. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.