gms | German Medical Science

Objectives: Fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum are associated with osteoporosis, and their incidence is rising in older adults. In the last decade there is again an increasing number of these fractures that are being operated in older patients in certain regions. The goal of this study was to describe the incidence of pelvic and acetabular fractures in Belgium and to describe the evolution of the incidence over time.

Methods: This retrospective, nationwide, population-based study was conducted with the help of the Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI-RIZIV-INAMI). Multiple codes that are used for the reimbursement of the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures were linked to the patients age group, sex, region of treatment and year of treatment.

Results and Conclusion: Between 1988 and 2018 a total of 91,317 pelvic and acetabular fractures were diagnosed. The age-adjusted incidence increased from 15.8/100,000 persons per year in 1988 to 29.7/100,000 persons per year in 2006 and to 37.6/100,000 persons per year in 2018. The fracture incidence showed a bimodal incidence, with a small peak in children (particularly boys), and an increasingincidence in older adults, particularly in women. Between 2006 and 2018, 5,957 patients underwent surgical treatment for their pelvic fracture. 2,088 patients underwent an osteosynthesis of the acetabulum and 3,869 patients underwent an osteosynthesis of the pelvic ring. There were 3,622 osteosyntheses (60.8%) in patients younger than 60 years old and 2,335 (39.1%) in patients over 60 years old.

There is an increasing incidence of pelvic and acetabular fractures in Belgium with the majority of these fractures occurring in older people. Younger adults have the highest proportion of surgical treatment, but given the much higher incidence in older adults, there is a considerable amount of total operations in older adults as well.