title: Alcohol-Related Fracture Admissions: A Retrospective Observational Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In April 2011 the NI public health agency estimated that alcohol misuse generates overall annual healthcare costs of £122.2m. There is currently a paucity of data regarding the burden of alcohol-related fractures on the provinces Trauma and Orthopaedic service.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 104 patients over a 12 month period was performed. Data collected using the Fractures Outcomes and Research Database included: age, gender, smoking status, weekly alcohol intake, mechanism of injury and subsequent treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol related fractures accounted for 6.1% of all acute fractures admissions in the 12 month period. 73% were male, with a bimodal age distribution. The majority of patients were classed as social drinkers; however a significant proportion (23.1%) were alcohol dependent. 62.5% of patients were smokers at the time of admission. 95% of patients suffered a single injury which was commonly secondary to a simple mechanical fall (53.8%). The majority of patients sustained lower limb injuries, with 30.8% of these being ankle fractures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our study has identified that alcohol-related trauma creates a significant financial burden on the NHS. It is likely that the incidence of alcohol related fracture is higher than documented in this study. We advocate the assessment of patients using the AUDIT-C score to assess for at risk drinking behaviour in those presenting with an alcohol related fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Altnagelvin Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Marley
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Altnagelvin Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Altnagelvin Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AUDIT-C; Alcohol; abuse; fracture; trauma