J Korean Med Sci.  2022 Oct;37(38):e288. 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e288.

Epidemiology of Ankle Fractures in Korea: A Nationwide PopulationBased Study

• Kang HJ
• Lee JW
• Kwon YM
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2533564
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e288

Abstract

Background
Although ankle fractures are among the most common fractures, nationwide population-based data on the epidemiology of patients with ankle fractures are scarce. This study aimed to perform an epidemiological analysis of all ankle fractures in Korea from 2010 through 2018.
Methods
We used national registries from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service from 2009 to 2018. The annual incidence of the ankle fracture was calculated. The incidence was also calculated according to gender and age. Trends of fracture subtypes were also analyzed. Then, the incidence of ankle fractures by seasonal variation was investigated.
Results
A total of 735,073 ankle fractures were identified in 461,497,758 people for 10 years. The annual incidence of ankle fracture was 171.37/100,000 persons in 2018, with a male to female ratio of 0.78. Interesting differences in the ankle fracture trends were observed between gender. Male shows the highest incidence in adolescence, and the even distribution has lasted for the rest of their lives. In females, the incidence of ankle fracture showed an increasing tendency as their age increased. There was a clear difference in the incidence rate of each season according to age. Ankle fractures occurred more in spring and autumn in children and adolescents and most in winter in the elderly.
Conclusion
Ankle fracture risk was different between sex and exhibited seasonal variations. Our findings can be used for epidemiological awareness and prevention campaigns for ankle fractures.

Keyword

Ankle Fractures; Epidemiology; Incidence; Population-Based Study

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The incidence rates per 100,000 person-years of ankle fracture in South Korea during 2009–2018, stratified by sex and year. The figure corresponds with Table 1.

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  Fig. 2 The incidence rates per 100,000 person-years of ankle fracture in South Korea during 2009–2018, stratified by age and sex. The figure corresponds with Table 2.

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  Fig. 3 The incidence rates per 100,000 person-years of ankle fracture in South Korea, stratified by age and fracture subtype.

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  Fig. 4 The incidence rates per 100,000 person-years of ankle fracture in South Korea, stratified by age and month, is expressed as a three-dimensional surface graph. The higher point on the graph indicates higher incidence rates.

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