The aim of this study was to examine the trends in the number and incidence of scapular fractures causing hospitalization in the Finnish adult population between 1998 and 2014.
We assessed the number and incidence of scapular fractures resulting in hospital admission and fixation with a plate in Finland in 1998 through 2014 using the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register as the database. In each year, the study included the entire Finnish adult population.
A total of 3843 adult patients with scapular fractures were hospitalized, and the incidence of fracture increased from 4.8 (per 100,000 person-years) in 1998 to 6.6 in 2014. The fracture was operated on with plating in 476 cases (12.4%). The annual number and incidence of scapular fixation with plates did not show constant trend changes during the study period except in the years 2011 through 2013, when there was a sudden increase in the number of these operations. This increase leveled off in 2014.
The incidence of hospital-treated scapular fractures increased in Finland in 1998 through 2014. Treatment of scapular fractures with a plate did not show consistent trend changes in Finland during this period.

© 2019 The Authors.

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