Trends in the Incidence and Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures in the United States in Privately Insured and Medicare Advantage Enrollees.

Background

This study aims to determine the trends in the treatment of distal radius fractures (DRFs) in patients aged 18 years and older.

Methods

An administrative claims database of more than 100 million patients was used to identify patients aged 18 years and older with a DRF between 2005 and 2014. A total of 137 130 DRFs were identified in 135 128 patients.

Results

The proportion and rate of fractures were more predominant in those aged 55 years and older compared with a decreasing incidence in patients younger than 55 years. Age-adjusted rates of surgical treatment have significantly increased in both women and men by 15.9% (absolute change, 4.8%) and 5.0% (absolute change, 1.7%) change over time, respectively. Conversely, age-adjusted rates of nonsurgical treatment have significantly decreased overtime in both women and men by 6.9% and 2.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

These data provide better understanding of the epidemiology of DRF, which is important to develop preventive strategies targeting high-risk populations and to develop effective treatment strategies.