Occurrence of fractures in a defined population: a 1-year study.

All injured patients admitted to Trondheim University Hospital during the period June 1985 to June 1986 were recorded. Patients sustaining fractures and living in Trondheim city were selected for this study. A total of 2973 patients with 3060 fractures were reported, giving an incidence rate of 22.8 fractures per 1000 inhabitants. The patients sustaining fractures represented 20 per cent of all cases. Patients with fractures occupied 87 per cent of all days in hospital required by patients involved in accidents. The patients with fractures of the upper end of the femur occupied 53 per cent of these. The types of fractures and the mechanism causing the accidents varied according to the age of the patient. Forearm fractures were the most common fracture. The age of the patient seemed to be the most important factor influencing the outcome of the accident. The percentage of hospitalization increased with increasing age.