Distal forearm fractures in New Zealand children: annual rates in a geographically defined area.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the annual incidence of distal forearm fractures in New Zealand children and to describe circumstances associated with this fracture.


METHODS
The ages and dates of fracture of all girls and boys aged three to fifteen years with distal forearm fractures treated at Fracture Clinic, Dunedin Public Hospital in one calendar year were recorded.


RESULTS
The age-standardised annual incidence rates for Dunedin girls and boys aged three to fifteen years were 10.4 per 1000 (95% CI 8.3-12.4 per 1000), and 10.4 per 1000 (95% CI 8.3-12.6 per 1000), respectively. The peak incidence in girls was observed at ten years of age (23.5 fractures per 1000) and for boys at thirteen years of age (25.3 fractures per 1000). Extrapolation of these rates to all New Zealand suggest that in children aged three to fifteen years, 3659 (95% CI 2906-4413) distal forearm fractures occur per year in girls, and 3845 (95% CI 3087-4603) per year in boys, representing about 20 fractures per day. Many of the fractures for the girls and boys resulted from apparently slight trauma (62.2% and 61.6%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Distal forearm fractures are very common events in New Zealand children and adolescents, and are usually caused by apparently slight trauma.
Jones
I E
IE
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin. ianthe.jones@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Cannan
R
R
Goulding
A
A
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data