Mortality following proximal humerus fracture-a nationwide register study of 147,692 fracture patients in Sweden.

Little is known about survival after proximal humerus fracture. In this manuscript, we found the mortality to be high (almost four times higher than in age- and sex-matched controls). While frailty hip fracture has gained attention, we hope our manuscript will shed light on frailty proximal humerus fracture patients. INTRODUCTION: Proximal humerus fractures (PHF) are common and occur mostly after the 6th decade of life. While mortality following PHF has been reported previously, mortality data after longer follow-up on a national level is lacking. METHODS: We obtained data from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register (SHDR), on all adult patients (≥ 18 years) with a diagnosis of PHF (S42.2, S42.20, or S42.21) for the period between 2001 and 2016. We used the Swedish Cause of Death Register (SCDR) to investigate mortality in the fracture cohort. We compared the mortality of fracture patients with age- and sex-matched population-based mortality data obtained from Statistics Sweden. RESULTS: A total of 147 692 PHF patients were identified, with a male to female ratio of 1:3. The mean age was 69 years (range, 18 to 111). Most patients were treated non-surgically (n = 126,487, 86%). The crude mortality rate was 2.2% at 1 month, 4.1% at 3 months, 8.5% at 12 months, and 24% at 48 months after sustaining a PHF. Mortality increased with age; however, the standardized mortality rate (SMR) was highest among young patients. SMR was 5.4 in the 18- to 39-year age group, 3.9 in the 40- to 64-year age group, 1.8 in the 65-79-year age group, and 1.2 in the ≥ 80-year-old population. The age-adjusted SMR was 3.9 in the whole adult PHF population. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate and SMR suggest that PHF patients are heterogeneous. Some older PHF patients may benefit from specialized care (e.g., orthogeriatric), and this should be evaluated in future studies.

Incidence changes in risk factors associated with the decreasing number of birth-related clavicle fractures in Finland: A nationwide retrospective birth cohort from 2004 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: A clavicle fracture is one of the most common birth injuries. The objective of this study was to examine whether the decreased incidence of birth-related clavicle fractures in Finland is because of temporal changes in their predisposing factors. METHODS: For this nationwide population-based study, we used the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Care Register for Health Care databases. The study population included all singleton, live-born newborn born spontaneously or by vacuum-assisted delivery, in cephalic presentation ≥37+0 weeks of gestation. The incidences of clavicle fractures, pregnancy characteristics, and risk assessments for fracture were calculated and compared between two time periods: 2004-2010 and 2011-2017. RESULTS: A total of 629 457 newborn were born vaginally between 2004 and 2017. The clavicle fracture incidence decreased from 17.6/1000 to 6.2/1000 live births. Shoulder dystocia, diabetes, and birthweight ≥4000 g were the strongest predisposing factors. The incidence of birthweight ≥4000 g decreased, meanwhile type 1 diabetes and shoulder dystocia remained stable and gestational diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and maternal obesity increased in the later study period. The incidence of clavicle fractures without known predisposing factors declined. Simultaneously, the cesarean birth rate remained stable (13.2%-13.1%), although the rate of vacuum-assisted deliveries increased (8.5%-9.5%). DISCUSSION: The incidence of clavicle fractures decreased, even though the incidence of most risk factors remained stable or increased, and the cesarean birth rate remained stable. This decline may be related to the reduction of fracture incidence among deliveries without known risk factors, and the decrease in birthweight ≥4000 g.

Birth injury in breech delivery: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Finland.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have examined the optimal mode of breech delivery extensively, but there is a scarcity of publications focusing on the birth injuries of neonates born in breech presentation. This study aimed to examine birth injury in breech deliveries. METHODS: In this retrospective register-based nationwide cohort study, data on birth injuries in vaginal breech deliveries with singleton live births were compared to cesarean section with breech presentation and cephalic vaginal delivery between 2004 and 2017 in Finland. The data were retrieved from the National Medical Birth Register. Primary outcome variables were severe and mild birth injury. Incidences of birth injuries in different gestational ages and birthweights were calculated in different modes of delivery. Crude odds ratios of risk factors for severe birth injury were analyzed. RESULTS: In vaginal breech delivery (n = 4344), there were 0.8% of neonates with severe birth injury and 1.5% of neonates with mild birth injury compared to 0.06% and 0.2% in breech cesarean section (n = 16,979) and 0.3% and 1.9% in cephalic vaginal delivery (n = 629,182). Brachial plexus palsy was the most common type of injury in vaginal breech delivery. Increasing gestational age and birthweight had a stronger effect on the risk for injury among cephalic vaginal deliveries than among vaginal breech deliveries. CONCLUSION: Birth injuries were rare in vaginal breech deliveries. The incidence of severe birth injury was two times higher in vaginal breech delivery compared to cephalic vaginal delivery. Brachial plexus palsy was the most common type of injury in vaginal breech delivery.

Incidence of Peripheral Nerve Decompression Surgery During Pregnancy and the First Year After Delivery in Finland From 1999 to 2017: A Retrospective Register-Based Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to report the incidence of peripheral nerve decompression surgery during pregnancy and 12 months after delivery in Finland from 1999 to 2017. METHODS: Using nationwide data from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care and the Finnish Medical Birth Register, all women of potentially childbearing age (15-49 years) who underwent peripheral nerve decompression surgery or had a pregnancy ending in delivery from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2017, were included. Incidence rates and incidence rate ratios for operations were calculated for both childbearing women and the age-adjusted general female population. RESULTS: In total, 308 women underwent carpal tunnel release (CTR) during pregnancy, and an additional 675 women underwent CTR within 12 months after delivery. The incidence of CTR during pregnancy was 38 per 100,000 person-years, with an incidence rate ratio of 0.5 (95% CI, 0.4-0.6), when compared with that in the general population. Women who were active smokers before becoming pregnant were more likely to undergo CTR during pregnancy (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.8-3.0). The highest rates of CTR were observed during the first trimester. The incidence of CTR in the first postpartum year increased steadily during the first 4 months to 79 per 100,000 person-years. During the latter 8 months, incidences were similar to those in the general population (incidence rate ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.9-1.2). Women who smoked were more likely to undergo CTR during the first postpartum year (odds ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3-1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Carpal tunnel release is performed more rarely during pregnancy than in the age-matched general population. Postpartum incidences increased toward the end of the first year, reaching those observed in the general population after the first 4 months. Smoking before pregnancy is associated with increased incidences of CTR both during pregnancy and the first year after delivery. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic II.

Regional variations in lumbar spine surgery in Finland.

INTRODUCTION: The regional variation in spine surgery rates has been shown to be large both within and between countries. This variation has been reported to be less in studies from countries with spine registers. The aim of this study was to describe the regional variation in lumbar spine surgery in Finland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective register study. Data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR) were used to calculate and compare the rates of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), decompression, and fusion surgeries in five University Hospital catchment areas, covering the whole Finnish population, from January 1, 1997, through December 31, 2018. RESULTS: A total of 138,119 lumbar spine operations (including LDH, decompression, and fusion surgery) were performed in Finland between 1997 and 2018. The regional differences in the rate of LDH surgery were over fourfold (18 vs. 85 per 100,000 person years), lumbar decompression surgery over threefold (41 vs. 129 per 100,000 person years), and lumbar fusion surgery over twofold (14 vs. 34 per 100,000 person years) in 2018. The mean age of the patients increased in all regions during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: In Finland, the regional variations in spine surgeries were vast. In a country with a publicly funded healthcare system, this finding was surprising. The recently created national spine register may serve to shed more light on the reasons for this regional variation.

Incidence of fracture hospitalization and surgery during pregnancy in Finland-1998-2017: a retrospective register-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of all major fractures and surgery during pregnancy and the outcomes of pregnancy in Finland between 1998 and 2017. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using nationwide data from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care and the Finnish Medical Birth Register. As participants we included all women aged between 15 and 49 years from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2017 and their ≥ 22-week pregnancies. RESULTS: Of a total 629,911 pregnancies, 1813 pregnant women were hospitalized with a fracture diagnosis, yielding an incidence of 247 fractures/100,000 pregnancy-years. Of these, 24% (n = 513/2098) were treated operatively. The most common fractures were fractures of the tibia, ankle, and the forearm, which made up half of all fractures. The incidence of pelvic fractures was 6.8/100,000 pregnancy-years, with an operation rate of 14%. The stillbirth rate of all fracture patients was low at 0.6% (n = 10/1813), although this was 1.5-fold the overall stillbirth rate in Finland. Lumbosacral and comminuted spinopelvic fractures resulted in preterm delivery in 25% (n = 5/20) of parturients, with a stillbirth rate of 10% (n = 2/20). CONCLUSION: The incidence of fracture hospitalization during pregnancy is lower than in the general population, and fractures in this population are more often treated conservatively. A higher proportion of preterm deliveries and stillbirths occurred in women with lumbosacral and comminuted spinopelvic fractures. Maternal mortality and stillbirth rates remain low among women with fractures leading to hospitalization or surgery during pregnancy.

Incidence of ankle arthrodesis and total ankle replacement between 1997 and 2018: A nationwide registry study in Finland.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment options for end-stage ankle osteoarthritis (OA) include ankle arthrodesis (AA) and total ankle replacement (TAR). We investigated the national incidence of AA and TAR and assessed trends in the surgical management of ankle OA in Finland between 1997 and 2018. METHODS: The Finnish Care Register for Health Care was used to calculate the incidence of AA and TAR based on sex and different age groups. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) of patients was similar, 57.8 (14.3) years for AA and 58.1 (14.0) for TAR. TAR showed a 3-fold increase from 0.3 per 100 000 person-years in 1997 to 0.9 per 100 000 person-years in 2018. The incidence of AA operations decreased during the study period from 4.4 per 100 000 person-years in 1997 to 3.8 per 100 000 person-years in 2018. TAR utilization increased notably at the expense of AA between 2001 and 2004. CONCLUSION: TAR and AA are both widely used procedures in the treatment of ankle OA, with AA being the favored option for most patients. The incidence of TAR has remained constant for the past 10 years, indicating appropriate treatment indications and utilization.

The Development of Lower Limb Amputations in Finland from 1997 to 2018: A Nationwide Retrospective Registry Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rates of transfemoral, transtibial foot and toe amputations, and lower limb revascularisations in Finland between 1997 and 2018. METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study. Data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register for the period 1997 - 2018 were used. The study population covered all patients 20 years and older who underwent lower limb revascularisations or amputations in private and public hospitals during the study period. All (outpatient and inpatient) amputations and revascularisations were included. The age adjusted incidence rates were based on the annual mid populations, which were obtained from the Official Statistics of Finland. Continuous variables were presented as median with interquartile range (IQR) or as mean with standard deviation. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the incidence rates were calculated using the Poisson exact method. All changes in incidence were calculated as relative change (%). RESULTS: A total of 75 230 patients underwent 149 492 lower limb revascularisations and amputations between 1997 and 2018 in Finland. The median (IQR) age of the patients was 73 (65, 80) and 60% of the patients were men. The incidence of all endovascular lower limb revascularisations increased by 159% while the incidence of lower limb amputations increased by 25%. The most notable increase occurred in toe (84%) and foot (107%) amputations, while the incidence of transfemoral amputations remained steady and transtibial amputations decreased by 53%. The first minor-major amputation ratio (CI) increased from 1.13 (1.03 - 1.24) to 1.49 (1.36 to 1.62) during the study period. CONCLUSION: The findings of this nationwide cohort study suggest that the incidence of both lower limb revascularisations and amputations is increasing. More specifically, revascularisations are more often performed endovascularly, and the incidence of transtibial amputations is declining, whereas the incidence of toe and foot amputations is increasing.

Birth rate after major trauma in fertile-aged women: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Finland.

BACKGROUND: To date, only a few small studies have assessed the effects of major orthopedic traumas on the subsequent birth rate in fertile-aged woman. We assessed the incidences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fractures of the spine, pelvis, and hip or thigh and evaluated their association with the birth rate in fertile-aged woman. METHODS: In this retrospective register-based nationwide cohort study, data on all fertile-aged (15-44 years of age) women who sustained a TBI or fracture of the spine, pelvis, hip or thigh between 1998 and 2013 were retrieved from the Care Register for Health Care. A total of 22,780 women were included in TBI group, 3627 in spine fracture group, 1820 in pelvic fracture group, and 1769 in hip or thigh fracture group. The data were subsequently combined with data from the National Medical Birth Register. We used Cox regression model to analyze the hazard for a woman to give birth during 5-year follow-up starting from a major trauma. Women with wrist fractures (4957 women) formed a reference group. Results are reported as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: During 5-year follow-up after major trauma, 4324 (19.0%) women in the TBI group, 652 (18.0%) in the spine fracture group, 301 (16.5%) in the pelvic fracture group, 220 (12.4%) in the hip or thigh fracture group, and 925 (18.7%) in the wrist fracture group gave birth. The cumulative birth rate was lower in the hip or thigh fracture group in women aged 15-24 years (HR 0.72, CI 0.58-0.88) and 15-34 years (HR 0.65, CI 0.52-0.82). Women with pelvic fracture aged 25-34 years also had a lower cumulative birth rate (HR 0.79, CI 0.64-0.97). For spine fractures and TBIs, no reduction in cumulative birth rate was observed. Vaginal delivery was the primary mode of delivery in each trauma group. However, women with pelvic fractures had higher rate of cesarean section (23.9%), when compared to other trauma groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that women with thigh, hip, or pelvic fractures had a lower birth rate in 5-year follow-up. Information gained from this study will be important in clinical decision making when women with previous major trauma are considering becoming pregnant and giving birth.

To date, only a few small studies have assessed the effects of major orthopedic traumas on the subsequent birth rate in fertile-aged woman. We assessed the incidences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and fractures of the spine, pelvis, and hip or thigh and evaluated their association with the birth rate in fertile-aged woman.Data on all fertile-aged (15­44 years of age) women who sustained a TBI or fracture of the spine, pelvis, hip or thigh between 1998 and 2013 were retrieved from the Care Register for Health Care and the data was then subsequently combined with data from the National Medical Birth Register.A total of 22,780 women were included in TBI group, 3627 in spine fracture group, 1820 in pelvic fracture group, 1769 in hip or thigh fracture group, and 4957 in wrist fracture group, which was used as control group. Of these, 4324 (19.0%) women in the TBI group, 652 (18.0%) in the spine fracture group, 301 (16.5%) in the pelvic fracture group, 220 (12.4%) in the hip or thigh fracture group, and 925 (18.7%) in the wrist fracture group gave birth during the 5-year follow-up.Our results suggest that women with thigh, hip, or pelvic fractures had a lower birth rate in 5-year follow-up. Information gained from this study will be important in clinical decision making when women with previous major trauma are considering becoming pregnant and giving birth.

Craniotomies following acute traumatic brain injury in Finland-a national study between 1997 and 2018.

BACKGROUND: A number of patients who sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) require surgical intervention due to acute intracranial bleeding. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the national trends of acute craniotomies following TBI in the Finnish adult population. METHODS: The data were collected retrospectively from the Finnish Care Register for Health Care (1997-2018). The study cohort covered all first-time registered craniotomies following TBI in patients aged 18 years or older. A total of 7627 patients (median age = 59 years, men = 72%) were identified. RESULTS: The total annual incidence of acute trauma craniotomies decreased by 33%, from 8.6/100,000 in 1997 to 5.7/100,000 in 2018. The decrease was seen in both genders and all age groups, as well as all operation subgroups (subdural hematoma, SDH; epidural hematoma, EDH; intracerebral hematoma, ICH). The greatest incidence rate of 15.4/100,000 was found in patients 70 years or older requiring an acute trauma craniotomy. The majority of surgeries were due to an acute SDH and the patients were more often men. The difference between genders decreased with age (18-39 years = 84% men, 40-69 = 78% men, 70 + years = 55% men). The median age of the patients increased from 58 to 65 years during the 22-year study period. CONCLUSIONS: The number of trauma craniotomies is gradually decreasing; nonetheless, the incidence of TBI-related craniotomies remains high among geriatric patients. Further studies are needed to determine the indications and derive evidence-based guidelines for the neurosurgical care of older adults with TBIs to meet the challenges of the growing elderly population.

Smoking is associated with an increased risk for fractures in women after childbirth: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Finland.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Smoking weakens bone health and increases the risk of fractures. We investigated the incidence of fractures in smoking, fertile-aged women and compared it with that of non-smoking, fertile-aged women using data from nationwide registers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective register-based nationwide cohort study from 1998 to 2018. We identified all women smoking during pregnancy from the Medical Birth Register and compared these with non-smokers. We gathered fractures for both groups from the Care Register for Health Care. Pregnancies with missing smoking or socioeconomic status were excluded. A Cox regression model was used to analyze adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for fractures during the 5-year follow-up starting from delivery. The model was adjusted for the age of the mother at the time of delivery and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: The smoking group included 110,675 pregnancies and the non-smoking group 628,085 pregnancies. The overall fracture rate was higher in smokers after 1-year follow-up (aHR 1.7, CI 1.5-2.0) and 5-year follow-up (aHR 1.7, CI 1.6-1.8). After 5-year follow-up, the fracture rates for polytraumas (aHR 2.3, CI 1.4-3.7), inpatient admitted fractures (aHR 2.0, CI 1.7-2.4), and non-admitted fractures (aHR 1.8, CI 1.7-1.9) were all higher among smoking women. CONCLUSION: Smoking in fertile-aged women was associated with a higher risk of fractures during the 1-year and 5-year follow-up after giving birth, also after adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. Whether the increased fracture risk is caused by direct effects of smoking on bone health or riskier behavior remains uncertain.

Surgery for patellar dislocation has evolved towards anatomical reconstructions with assessment and treatment of anatomical risk factors.

PURPOSE: Increasing knowledge on the treatment of patellar dislocation has resulted in the development of new surgical techniques for patella stabilisation. National incidence and trends in surgery for patellar dislocation were examined using data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register (NHDR). The hypothesis was that an increased understanding of the pathophysiology of patellar instability has increased the popularity of reconstructing damaged structures and modification of anatomical risk factors. METHODS: Data from the years 1997-2016 were collected from the NHDR database using ICD-10 diagnostic codes and the Nomesco Classification of Surgical Procedures (NCSP) codes. Surgical procedures were categorised into subgroups representing the main surgical approaches of patellar dislocation. Total incidence of surgery for patellar dislocation and change in incidence during the study period were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 9702 operations for patellar dislocation were performed during the study period. Median (IQR) patient age at time of primary surgery was 23 (18-34) years. The total incidence of surgeries remained stable across the study period at of 8.9 per 100,000 person-years. Incidences of ligament reconstruction, femoral osteotomies and osteochondral fragment reimplantation operations multiplied during the study period. Ligament reconstruction procedures were the most performed operations at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: The incidence of surgical procedures for patellar dislocation remained unchanged during the years 1997-2016. Ligament reconstruction procedures increased in popularity. Surgical techniques have shifted towards the reconstruction of damaged structures and the modification of congenital anatomical risk factors for patellar dislocation. Diversified surgical techniques have enabled the tailoring and combining of stabilizing procedures according to the patient's individual anatomy.

Epidemiology and mortality of pelvic and femur fractures-a nationwide register study of 417,840 fractures in Sweden across 16 years: diverging trends for potentially lethal fractures.

Background and purpose - Fractures of the pelvis and femur are serious and potentially lethal injuries affecting primarily older, but also younger individuals. Long-term trends on incidence rates and mortality might diverge for these fractures, and few studies compare trends within a complete adult population. We investigated and compared incidence and mortality rates of pelvic, hip, femur shaft, and distal femur fractures in the Swedish adult population.Patients and methods - We analyzed data on all adult patients ≥ 18 years in Sweden with a pelvic, hip, femur shaft, or distal femur fracture, through the Swedish National Patient Register. The studied variables were fracture type, age, sex, and 1-year mortality.Results - While incidence rates for hip fracture decreased by 18% (from 280 to 229 per 105 person-years) from 2001 to 2016, incidence rates for pelvic fracture increased by 25% (from 64 to 80 per 105 person-years). Incidence rates for femur shaft and distal femur fracture remained stable at rates of 15 and 13 per 105 person-years respectively. 1-year mortality after hip fracture was 25%, i.e., higher than for pelvic, femur shaft, and distal femur fracture where mortality rates were 20-21%. Females had an almost 30% lower risk of death within 1 year after hip fracture compared with males.Interpretation - Trends on fracture incidence for pelvic and femur fractures diverged considerably in Sweden between 2001 and 2016. While incidence rates for femur fractures (hip, femur shaft, and distal femur) decreased or remained constant during the studied years, pelvic fracture incidence increased. Mortality rates were different between the fractures, with the highest mortality among patients with hip fracture.

National trends in lumbar spine decompression and fusion surgery in Finland, 1997-2018.

Background and purpose - During recent years, spine surgery techniques have advanced, the population has become older, and multiple high-quality randomized controlled trials that support surgical treatment for degenerative spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis have been published. We assess the incidence and trends in spine fusion and decompression surgery in Finland between 1997 and 2018.Patients and methods - We used nationwide data from the Finnish nationwide National Hospital Discharge Register. The study population covered all patients aged 20 years or over in Finland (5.5 million inhabitants) during a 22-year period from 1997 through 2018. All patients who underwent spinal decompression were included. Patients with both decompression and fusion codes were analyzed as fusions.Results - 76,673 lumbar spine decompressions and fusions were performed during the study period. The incidence of lumbar spine decompressions increased from 33 (95% CI 23-45) per 100,000 person-years in 1997 to 77 (CI 61-95) per 100,000 person-years in 2018. The incidence of lumbar spine fusions increased from 9 (CI 5-17) per 100,000 person-years in 1997 to 30 (CI 21-43) per 100,000 person-years in 2018. The increase in incidence of lumbar spinal fusions was highest among women aged over 75 years, with a 4-fold increase.Interpretation - The incidence of lumbar spine fusions and decompressions increased between 1997 and 2018 in Finland. These findings may be the result of the emergence of advanced surgical techniques but may also be the result of an aging population and increased evidence supporting the surgical treatment of various spinal pathologies.

The incidence of birth injuries decreased in Finland between 1997 and 2017: A nationwide register study.

AIM: Birth injuries are rare complications that can have a significant impact on neonates and their families. This population-based study describes the rates and trends of all birth injuries in Finland over a 21-year period. METHODS: The study is based on a national Medical Birth Register that includes all live-born neonates of more than 22 gestational weeks or 500 g who were born in Finland between 1997 and 2017. The ICD-10 codes of the birth injuries were obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register and the Care Register for Health Care. The incidence of birth injury, changes over time and incidence at different gestational ages were determined. RESULTS: A total of 28 551 birth injuries were diagnosed, and the total incidence decreased from 34.0 to 16.6 per 1000 live births. The incidence of clavicle fracture, cephalohaematoma, and Erb paralysis decreased while the incidence of chignon and epicranial subaponeurotic haemorrhage increased. CONCLUSION: The incidence of birth injury halved during the 20-year study period. This was mainly due to a decrease in the number of clavicle fractures. The incidence of birth injury increased with gestational age, and most injuries occurred after 37 weeks of gestation.

Distal Biceps Tendon Rupture Surgery: Changing Incidence in Finnish and Swedish Men Between 1997 and 2016.

PURPOSE: Distal biceps tendon rupture is a relatively rare injury usually occurring with excess external extension force applied to a flexed elbow. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of distal biceps tendon rupture surgery in the Finnish and Swedish adult population between the years 1997 and 2016. A secondary aim was to investigate the distal biceps rupture incidence in the Swedish population in 2001 to 2016. METHODS: We assessed the number and rate of distal biceps tendon rupture surgery using the Finnish and Swedish Hospital Discharge Register as databases. The study included the entire Finnish and Swedish adult population aged 18 years and older between January 1, 1997 and of December 31, 2016. RESULTS: During the study period, 2,029 patients had a distal biceps tendon rupture in Finland, and the corresponding figure was 2,000 in Sweden. The rate of distal biceps tendon rupture surgery increased steeply, but equally, in both countries, in Finnish men from 1.3 per 100,000 person-years in 1997 to 9.6 in 2016, and in Swedish men from 0.2 in 1997 to 5.6 in 2016. The incidence of distal biceps tendon rupture in Sweden increased in men from 1.6 to 10.0 per 100,000 person-years from 2001 to 2016. CONCLUSIONS: There was a 7-fold and a 28-fold increase in the incidence of distal biceps tendon rupture surgery in Finnish and Swedish men during 1997 to 2016. The incidence of distal biceps tendon rupture rose 6-fold in Swedish men in 2001 to 2016. TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic IV.

Hardware removal rates after surgical treatment of proximal femur fractures : Nationwide trends in Finland in 1997-2016.

BACKGROUND: Various internal fixation methods have been used to treat proximal femur fractures and occasionally the fixation material is removed. However, nationwide trends of hardware removals are not known. Thus, this study investigated the hardware removal rates after proximal femur fractures in Finland during 1997-2016. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Finnish adults aged 18 years or older in 1997-2016 formed the basic study population. From the National Hospital Discharge Register patients with trochanteric femur fracture treated with an intramedullary nail (IMN) or dynamic hip screw (DHS), and patients with femoral neck fracture treated with screw fixation, were included. Hardware removal and secondary prosthesis rates were assessed. RESULTS: Altogether 41,253 patients underwent proximal femoral fracture fixation surgery in Finland in 1997-2016. Of these, 16,152 were DHS surgery and 15,724 IMN surgery and 8491 underwent screw operation of femoral neck fracture. The total removal rates of DHS and IMN were 5.5% and 5.4%. The total removal rate of screw fixations of the femoral neck was higher, 18.5%. The total removal rates during the first 3 years after the IMN more than halved in 1997-2013, from 7.6% to 3.7%, whereas the removal rate of the DHS or screw fixation of femoral neck fractures did not show consistent trend. The rate of secondary prosthesis operations following DHS and IMN was low (1.8% for both). This was in clear contrast to the prosthesis rate following screw fixations of the femoral neck (7.2%). CONCLUSIONS: IMN operations largely replaced DHS operations in trochanteric fractures of the proximal femur in Finland in 1997-2016. The removal and secondary prosthesis rates of the DHS and IMN were clearly lower than the corresponding rates after screw fixations of the femoral neck fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III, Epidemiologic study.

Reduced incidence and economic cost of hardware removal after ankle fracture surgery: a 20-year nationwide registry study.

Background and purpose - Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is a treatment method for unstable ankle fractures. During recent years, scientific evidence has shed light on surgical indications as well as on hardware removal. We assessed the incidence and trends of hardware removal procedures following ORIF of ankle fractures.Patients and methods - The study covered all patients 18 years of age and older who had an ankle fracture treated with ORIF in Finland between the years 1997 and 2016. Patient data were obtained from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register.Results - 68,865 patients had an ankle fracture treated with ORIF in Finland during the 20-year study period between 1997 and 2016. A hardware removal procedure was performed on 27% of patients (n = 18,648). The incidence of hardware removal procedures after ankle fracture decreased from 31 (95% CI 29-32) per 100,000 person-years in the highest year 2001 (n = 1,247) to 13 (CI 12-14) per 100,000 person-years in 2016 (n = 593). Moreover, the proportion and number of removal operations performed within the first 3 months also decreased. The costs of removal procedures decreased from approximately €994,000 in 2001 to €472,600 in 2016.Interpretation - Removal of hardware after ankle surgery (ORIF) is a common operation with substantial costs. However, the incidence and cost of removals decreased during the study period, with a particular decrease in hardware removal operations within 3 months.

Incidence of distal radius fracture surgery in Finns aged 50 years or more between 1998 and 2016 - too many patients are yet operated on?

BACKGROUND: Although optimal treatment of distal radius fractures is controversial, surgery has gained popularity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate recent trends in the surgical treatment of distal radius fractures in Finns aged 50 years or more. METHODS: A nationwide hospital discharge register-based study was conducted among all patients 50 years of age or older who had a surgically treated distal radius fracture in Finland between 1998 and 2016. The number and rate of different surgical procedures were calculated per 100,000 person-years. RESULTS: Altogether 21,965 surgically treated distal radius fractures were identified. During the study period the rate of percutaneous pinning and external fixation diminished while the rate of plate fixation significantly increased. The rate of operative treatment increased continually from 1998 to 2008 whereupon the peak of the incidence was achieved. After 2008, the rate of operative treatment of distal radius fracture remained quite constant, ranging between 61.1 and 67.8 per 100,000 person-years. CONCLUSIONS: Plate fixation has almost completely replaced both external fixation and percutaneous pinning in the surgical treatment of distal radius fractures in Finland. Despite growing evidence for less invasive treatment options in elderly patients, operative treatment of distal radius fracture is still rather popular today.

Declining incidence of surgery for Achilles tendon rupture follows publication of major RCTs: evidence-influenced change evident using the Finnish registry study.

OBJECTIVES: Acute Achilles tendon ruptures are common among highly active people. Recently published studies have provided increasing evidence to support non-surgical treatment. This study aimed to assess the incidence trends of surgically treated, acute Achilles tendon ruptures. Our hypothesis, based on the recent literature showing no difference in functional results between surgical and non-surgical treatment, was that the incidence of surgery would be declining. METHODS: We conducted a nationwide hospital register-based study. All patients 18 years of age or older with a diagnosis of acute Achilles tendon injury, and treated with Achilles tendon repair from 1987 to 2011 in Finland were included in the study. RESULTS: During the 25-year study period in Finland, a total of 15,252 patients received surgical treatment for an acute Achilles tendon rupture. The incidence of surgical treatment of acute Achilles tendon rupture in men was 11.1/100,000 person-years in 1987 and 20.5/100,000 person-years in 2011. The corresponding figures in women were 2.5/100,000 person-years in 1987 and 4.2/100,000 person-years in 2011. The highest rates occurred in 2008 in men and 2007 in women, and since then the decrease has been 42% in men and 55% in women. CONCLUSIONS: During the past few years, the rate of surgically treated acute Achilles tendon ruptures has declined remarkably. The findings of the present study indicate that orthopaedic surgeons have chosen more often non-surgical treatment option for acute Achilles ruptures. This can be considered as an example, how high-quality scientific evidence can lead to a rapid change in clinical practice.