Diagnosis and treatment of clavicular fractures in Belgium between 2006 and 2015.

BACKGROUND: Clavicular fractures are common fractures of the shoulder girdle. The debate about whether these fractures should be treated conservatively or surgically is ongoing. This study describes the incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium between 2006 and 2015 and how the surgical treatment rates have evolved during this time span.

METHODS: The study included all patients who were diagnosed with a clavicular fracture or surgically treated in Belgium. The Belgian National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance provided the data, which included the patients' age, sex, location, and time of injury for the entire Belgian population. The fracture incidences and surgical treatment rates for different population groups were assessed.

RESULTS: The incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium increased from 56.5/100,000 persons/year in 2006 to 70.6/100,000 persons/year in 2015. The age-related incidence was U-shaped, with high incidences seen in both men and women younger than 18 and older than 70. The rate of surgically treated clavicular fractures increased by 190% between 2006 and 2015.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of clavicular fractures in Belgium increased between 2006 and 2015. In the male population, the fracture incidence increased among all age groups, but in the female population, the increase was most noted in elderly patients. Although the preferred treatment strategy of clavicular fractures continues to be debated, there is a high and increasing rate of surgical treatment in Belgium, with an increasing percentage of patients that are surgically treated as outpatients.