Implementation of a fracture and dislocation registry. Epidemiology and scoring validity of long-bone fractures

Introduction: The Fracture and Dislocation Registry of Stavanger University Hospital were initiated 1st of January 2004 to accomplish the request of reliable data regarding incidence, modes of treatment and outcome of fractures. To ensure good quality in the registry the data have been consecutively controlled. To prepare the registry for further research the most important parameter, the classification code was validated. Method: All inpatient primary and secondary treatments of fractures made at the operation theatre were classified and reported by the surgeons consecutively. The most important parameters were; the AO/OTA- and Gustilo/Anderson-classification, the method of fixation, and the reasons for the reoperations. The surgeons recoded the fractures during the intra- and inter-rater analyses. A reference code dataset was made for accuracy assessment. Results: All involved surgeons reported to the registry. Completeness has been excellent. Approximately 28 % of the long bone fractures that was diagnosed inhospitally or at the Emergency Department were treated in the operation theatre. The overall incidence per 100,000 per year was 406 with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 395–417. The male:female ratio was 2:1 among those