Injury mechanism, epidemiology, and Hospital trends of scapula fractures: A 10-year retrospective study of the National Trauma Data Bank

Background: This 10 year retrospective study of the NTDB is the first to describe trends in scapula fracture diagnosis frequency, epidemiology, injury mechanisms and the type of hospital where the condition is treated. Methods: Demographics, ISS scores, hospital data, mechanism of injury, complications, and hospital length of stay were recorded for patients with diagnosed scapula fractures (ICD-9, 811.0) recorded in the NTDB, v7.2 (2002–2012). Mean and standard deviation for continuous variables and proportions for binary variables are calculated. Results: The prevalence of scapula fractures in all patients submitted to the NTDB (2002–2012) was 1.74%. Between 2006–2007, the reported incidence doubled from 1% to 2.2%. There was a predominance of injury to white males (75% and 78% respectively). Forty-one percent were treated at a Level 1 trauma center and had a mean ISS of 20.1 (SD-11.8). Scapula fracture rates declined in patients 0–19 years and increased in the 60–79 and 80+ age groups. The increasing incidence of the aged population is also reflected in the increase of falls as the mechanism of injury in the elderly population. Conclusion: This study is the first to describe a full decade of scapula fracture epidemiology on a national scale. The number of diagnosed scapula fractures increased substantially in the NTDB between 2002-2012. Scapula fractures diagnosed in the geriatric demographic and fractures resulting from falls are both on the rise, whereas the reported incidence is decreasing in the younger demographic. Additionally, fractures as a result of motor vehicle accidents also decreased precipitously during the reported decade.