• Michiel Herteleer, Harm Hoekstra, and Stefaan Nijs.
• Organ Systems, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Traumatology, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: Michiel.herteleer@kuleuven.be.
• J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2018 Aug 1; 27 (8): 1512-1518.

BackgroundClavicular fractures are common fractures of the shoulder girdle. The debate about whether these fractures should be treated conservatively or surgically is ongoing. This study describes the incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium between 2006 and 2015 and how the surgical treatment rates have evolved during this time span.MethodsThe study included all patients who were diagnosed with a clavicular fracture or surgically treated in Belgium. The Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance provided the data, which included the patients' age, sex, location, and time of injury for the entire Belgian population. The fracture incidences and surgical treatment rates for different population groups were assessed.ResultsThe incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium increased from 56.5/100,000 persons/year in 2006 to 70.6/100,000 persons/year in 2015. The age-related incidence was U-shaped, with high incidences seen in both men and women younger than 18 and older than 70. The rate of surgically treated clavicular fractures increased by 190% between 2006 and 2015.ConclusionThe incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium increased between 2006 and 2015. In the male population, the fracture incidence increased among all age groups, but in the female population, the increase was most noted in elderly patients. Although the preferred treatment strategy of clavicular fractures continues to be debated, there is a high and increasing rate of surgical treatment in Belgium, with an increasing percentage of patients that are surgically treated as outpatients.Copyright © 2018 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

33 keywords...

hide…