Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jun 7:31:e948835.
doi: 10.12659/MSM.948835.

Ten-Year Trends in Pelvic Fractures Among China's Aging Population: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Honghu Xiao  1   2 , Feng Gao  1   2   3 , Yimin Chen  1   2   3 , Weidong Peng  1   2   3 , Gang Liu  1   2 , Tingrun Cui  1   2 , Jing Zhang  4 , Minghui Yang  1   2   3 , Xinbao Wu  1   2   3
Affiliations

Ten-Year Trends in Pelvic Fractures Among China's Aging Population: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Honghu Xiao et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pelvic fractures are a growing concern, particularly among the elderly, but data on fracture patterns in mainland China are limited. This study investigated the epidemiological trends of pelvic fractures amid an aging population in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS This retrospective study enrolled consecutive pelvic fracture patients aged ≥14 years treated at a level-1 trauma center in Beijing, China, between January 2013 and December 2022. Clinical and radiological data were collected and fractures were classified using Young-Burgess and AO/OTA systems based on X-ray and CT scans. Epidemiological trends were analyzed over the decade. RESULTS A total of 1037 eligible patients were enrolled in this study. We observed an increase in case numbers and mean age of pelvic fracture patients, along with marked growth in both the number and proportion of elderly patients (≥60 years). Males were more prevalent overall, but females outnumbered males in patients over 70 years. Elderly patients had fewer urethral, spinal, and abdominal injuries but more comorbidities compared to younger patients. Fracture classification distribution remained stable over time (P>0.05) but differed significantly between younger and elderly patients (P<0.05). Surgical intervention rates increased significantly in the latter 5 years (P<0.05), with higher rates in younger patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study reveals notable epidemiological shifts in pelvic fractures in China from 2013 to 2022, with a rise in elderly patients and variations in fracture patterns and treatments across age groups, highlighting the effects of an aging population.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study. (PowerPoint 2019, version 2504, Microsoft).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Case number of pelvic fracture change over years. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Proportion of elderly pelvic fracture change over years. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Trend charts of mean age over years. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Trend charts of sex ratio over years. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Trend chart of sex ratio by age group. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
Figure 7
Figure 7
(A) Distribution of fracture types in all pelvic fracture patients treated with surgery. (B) Distribution of fracture types in young pelvic fracture patients treated with surgery. (C) Distribution of fracture types in elderly pelvic fracture patients treated with surgery. (GraphPad Prism, version 9.5.0.730, GraphPad).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Borgström F, Karlsson L, Ortsäter G, et al. Fragility fractures in Europe: Burden, management and opportunities. Arch Osteoporos. 2020;15(1):59. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Melhem E, Riouallon G, Habboubi K, et al. Epidemiology of pelvic and acetabular fractures in France. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2020;106(5):831–39. - PubMed
    1. Lundin N, Huttunen TT, Berg HE, et al. Increasing incidence of pelvic and acetabular fractures. A nationwide study of 87,308 fractures over a 16-year period in Sweden. Injury. 2021;52(6):1410–17. - PubMed
    1. Herteleer M, Dejaeger M, Nijs S, et al. Epidemiology and secular trends of pelvic fractures in Belgium: A retrospective, population-based, nationwide observational study. Bone. 2021;153:116141. - PubMed
    1. Kannus P, Palvanen M, Niemi S, et al. Epidemiology of osteoporotic pelvic fractures in elderly people in Finland: Sharp increase in 1970–1997 and alarming projections for the new millennium. Osteoporos Int. 2000;11(5):443–48. - PubMed