PHALANGEAL FRACTURES OF THE HAND - AN ANALYSIS OF GENDER AND AGE-RELATED INCIDENCE AND ETIOLOGY

The incidence and aetiology of 6,857 phalangeal fractures of the hand have been reviewed in a series of 235,427 patients, looking for an age -specific vulnerability to fracture. We found sports to be the main ca use of fracture in the 10-29 years age groups and accidental falls to be the leading cause in those aged 70 years or older. We made a new ob servation that the highest incidence occurs in the male 40-69 age grou p and machinery was the dominant cause of fracture in this group. Reco gnition of the frequency of industrial trauma is needed, and public ex penditure should be invested in its prevention and treatment.