title: Epidemiology of distal femur fractures in France in 2011-12.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological study of femoral fractures has been dominated by proximal fractures. Distal fracture requires equal attention for correct management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study in 12 French hospital centres between June 1st, 2011 and May 31st, 2012 recruited cases of non-pathologic distal femoral fracture in patients over 15 years of age without ipsilateral knee prosthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 183 fractures in 177 patients. Mean age was 63.5 years. Female patients (60.5%) were significantly older than males (mean age, respectively 73 versus 48.4 years). Walking was unrestricted in only 83 patients (46.89%). On the AO/OTA (Orthopaedic Trauma Association) classification, there were 86 type A fractures (47%), 29 type B (15.8%) and 68 type C (37.2%). Fractures were open in 32 cases (17.5%), most frequently in male, young patients and type C fracture. Causal trauma was low-energy (fall from own height) in 108 cases, most frequently in female patients and type A fracture. Forty-five patients were proximal femoral implant bearers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distal femoral fracture shows highly variable epidemiology. AO/OTA type A fracture mainly involves elderly, relatively dependent female subjects. Outcome study requires radiographic data and assessment of functional capacity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, CHU de Nantes, 1, place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France. Electronic address: guy.pietu@chu-nantes.fr.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pietu
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique, hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, 270, boulevard Sainte-Marguerite, BP 29, 13274 Marseille cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebaron
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique, hôpital Sainte-Marguerite, 270, boulevard Sainte-Marguerite, BP 29, 13274 Marseille cedex 09, France.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Flecher
authors.affiliation: Département de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, Niveau 11, Inserm U 1075 COMETE, université de Caen Basse-Normandie, CHU de Caen, avenue de la Côte-de-Nacre, 14033 Caen, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hulet
authors.affiliation: Service de chirurgie orthopédique et traumatologique, université René-Descartes, hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, 20, rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vandenbussche
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Distal femur; Epidemiology; Fracture