title: Epidemiology and recent trends of geriatric fractures presenting to the emergency department for United States population from year 2004-2014.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fractures in geriatric age group (over 65 years of age) are an important public health issue and frequent causes of emergency room visits. The purpose of this descriptive epidemiological study was to present the epidemiology of geriatric fractures and their trends in the USA using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database from year 2004-2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Database was queried for all fracture injuries from 2004 to 2014 for ages 65 years and above. The proportions of fractures based on NEISS national estimates were calculated and their trends using linear regression over last 11 years were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower trunk (pelvis, hip and lower spine) fractures were the most common (34% for year 2014) type of fractures in this age group. Upper trunk (upper spine, clavicle and ribs) fractures were the second most common type of fractures (13% for year 2014). Other body parts commonly fractured involved the upper arm and wrist with an average of 7% fractures in both during the study period. About 5% of geriatric fractures pertained to shoulder and upper leg. Although less common, there was also about 2% increase in fractures to face and neck in 2014 as compared to about 3.2% and 1% respectively in 2004. Fractures to other body parts were less common with no major variations during the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, lower trunk (hip, pelvic and lower spine) fractures were the most common geriatric fractures followed by upper trunk (upper spine, clavicle and rib) fractures. We suggest that there were decreasing trends for incidence of lower trunk, wrist and upper body fractures over the last 11 years (2004-2014). Approximately half of the geriatric fractures presenting to Emergency Department needed hospitalizations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Baidwan
authors.affiliation: East Arkansas Orthopedic Associates, 902 Holiday Drive, Forrest City, AR, 72335, USA. Electronic address: sameernaranje@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Naranje
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Fragility fractures; Geriatric fracture epidemiology; Geriatric fractures