Variations in the use of internal fixation for distal radial fracture in the United States medicare population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Distal radial fractures affect an estimated 80,000 elderly Americans each year. Although the use of internal fixation for the treatment of distal radial fractures is becoming increasingly common, there have been no population-based studies to explore the dissemination of this technique. The aims of our study were to determine the current use of internal fixation for the treatment of distal radial fractures in the Medicare population and to examine regional variations and other factors that influence use of this treatment. We hypothesized that internal fixation of distal radial fractures would be used less commonly in male and black populations compared with other populations because the prevalence of osteoporosis is lower in these populations, and that use of internal fi

SUBMITTER: Chung KC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3226419 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature