Epidemiology of adult ankle fractures in Sweden between 1987 and 2004

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Previous national epidemiological data on the characteristics and trends of patients with ankle fractures have been limited. We therefore analyzed data on Swedish inpatients with ankle fractures in this nationwide population study, based on data from 1987 through 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data on all inpatients aged 15 years and older with ankle fracture were extracted from the Swedish National Patient Register for the period 1987-2004. RESULTS We identified 91,410 hospital admissions with ankle fracture, corresponding to an annual incidence rate of 71 per 10(5) person-years. During the study period, the number of hospital admissions increased by 0.2% annually, mainly from increase in fracture incidence in the elderly women. Mean age at admission was 45 (SD 19) years for men and 58 (18) for women. The major mechanism of injury was falling at the same level (64%). INTERPRETATION This nationwide study of inpatients with ankle fractures showed an increase in fracture incidence, particularly in elderly women.