Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the burden of hospitalized wrist fractures between 2002 and 2006 in France.
Methods: Data were drawn from the French Hospital National Database. The number of admissions and the incidence rates were described as well as the type of entry and discharge from hospital, length of stay, and 2006 in-patients costs.
Results: In 2002 and 2006, 38,710 and 38,979 hospitalizations for wrist fractures were registered respectively. The incidence rate of fractures increased with age whatever the year and decreased significantly from 2002 to 2006. Length of stay and mean inpatients costs increased with age. The overall in-patients 2006 costs was 79 millions with an average individual cost of 2100 € per hospitalized wrist fractures.
Conclusion: The incidence of hospitalizations for wrist fractures decreased in 2006 compared to 2002. The number of hospitalizations increased, as a consequence of ageing, (except for wrist fracture in men), with a subsequent increase in cost related to these fractures. The increase with age outlines the role of underlying osteoporosis and the relevance of appropriate care of patients at risk of for such fractures.
Level of evidence: IV.
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