Table 3.
Classifications of extremity fractures in blunt trauma patients.
| Without embolism | Fat embolism | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | (n = 324,049) | (n = 116) | p-value |
| Humerus fracture, n (%) | |||
| Closed | 35, 954 (11.1%) | 11 (9.5%) | 0.58 |
| Open | 8153 (2.5%) | 3 (2.6%) | 0.96 |
| External fixation | 935 (0.3%) | 1 (0.9%) | 0.25 |
| Internal fixation without reduction | 279 (0.1%) | 0 | 0.75 |
| Closed reduction without external fixation | 3818 (1.2%) | 2 (1.7%) | 0.59 |
| Closed reduction with external fixation | 871 (0.3%) | 0 | 0.58 |
| Open reduction without fixation | 426 (0.1%) | 0 | 0.70 |
| Open reduction and internal fixation | 18,571 (5.7%) | 8 (6.9%) | 0.59 |
| Debridement | 4882 (1.5%) | 3 (2.6%) | 0.34 |
| All operative | 22,582 (7.0%) | 9 (7.8%) | 0.74 |
| Non-operative | 21,537 (49.5%) | 5 (35.7%) | 0.30 |
| Femur fracture, n (%) | |||
| Closed | 219,136 (67.6%) | 95 (81.9%) | 0.001 |
| Open | 14,686 (4.5%) | 9 (7.8%) | 0.10 |
| External fixation | 7724 (2.4%) | 14 (12.1%) | <0.001 |
| Internal fixation without reduction | 12,544 (3.9%) | 12 (10.3%) | <0.001 |
| Closed reduction without external fixation | 8486 (2.6%) | 14 (12.1%) | <0.001 |
| Closed reduction with external fixation | 49,539 (15.3%) | 30 (25.9%) | 0.002 |
| Open reduction without fixation | 1447 (0.4%) | 0 | 0.47 |
| Open reduction and internal fixation | 92,261 (28.5%) | 46 (39.7%) | 0.01 |
| Debridement | 9141 (2.8%) | 7 (6.0%) | 0.04 |
| All operative | 156,523 (48.3%) | 87 (75.0%) | <0.001 |
| Non-operative | 76,055 (32.9%) | 14 (13.9%) | <0.001 |
| Patella fracture, n (%) | |||
| Patella closed | 5951 (1.8%) | 6 (5.2%) | 0.01 |
| Patella open | 2736 (0.8%) | 2 (1.7%) | 0.30 |
| Tibia fracture, n (%) | |||
| Closed | 56,397 (17.4%) | 26 (22.4%) | 0.16 |
| Open | 34,303 (10.6%) | 19 (16.4%) | 0.04 |
| External fixation | 18,498 (5.7%) | 14 (12.1%) | 0.003 |
| Internal fixation without reduction | 3843 (1.2%) | 2 (1.7%) | 0.59 |
| Closed reduction without external fixation | 1772 (0.5%) | 0 | 0.43 |
| Closed reduction with external fixation | 10,265 (3.2%) | 6 (5.2%) | 0.22 |
| Open reduction without fixation | 2047 (0.6%) | 1 (0.9%) | 0.75 |
| Open reduction and internal fixation | 45,266 (14.0%) | 25 (21.6%) | 0.02 |
| Debridement | 25,552 (7.9%) | 15 (12.9%) | 0.04 |
| All operative | 65,230 (20.1%) | 39 (33.6%) | <0.001 |
| Non-operative | 26,330 (31.3%) | 10 (23.8%) | 0.31 |
| Multiple fractures, n (%) | 62,631 (19.3%) | 51 (44.0%) | <0.001 |
Note: all procedures performed in the operating room.