title: The epidemiology of radial head and neck fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to define the epidemiological characteristics of proximal radial fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a prospective trauma database of 6,872 patients, we identified all patients who sustained a fracture of the radial head or neck over a 1-year period. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, mechanism of injury, fracture classification, and associated injuries were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 285 radial head (n = 199) and neck (n = 86) fractures, with a patient median age of 43 years (range, 13-94 y). The mean age of male patients was younger when compared to female patients for radial head and neck fractures, with no gender predominance seen. Gender did influence the mechanism of injury, with female patients commonly sustaining their fracture following a low-energy fall. Radial head fractures were associated more commonly with complex injuries according to the Mason classification, while associated injuries were related to age, the mechanism of injury, and increasing fracture complexity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radial head and neck fractures have distinct epidemiological characteristics, and consideration for osteoporosis in a subset of patients is recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prognostic IV.
authors: Edinburgh Orthopaedic Trauma Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. andrew.duckworth@yahoo.co.uk
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Duckworth
authors: Nicholas D
authors: ND
authors: Clement
authors: Paul J
authors: PJ
authors: Jenkins
authors: Stuart A
authors: SA
authors: Aitken
authors: Charles M
authors: CM
authors: Court-Brown
authors: Margaret M
authors: MM
authors: McQueen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult; D000092464:Elbow Injuries