Male incidence rates outpacing females: results from a nationwide analysis on acetabular fractures in Germany

INTRODUCTION: Acetabular fractures are uncommon, but serious injuries. Demographic changes may have a significant impact on planning healthcare structures to improve treatment outcomes. Aim of this nationwide, registry-based retrospective controlled study was to identify incidence trends, demographic characteristics, and care structures of patients with acetabular fractures in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed inpatient data from the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK). Based on 52 095 patients with primary diagnosis of an acetabular fracture between 2019 and 2024, we calculated incidence rates for different age-groups and put a spotlight on geriatric acetabular fractures (> 65 years of age). RESULTS: Incidence rates in patients under 65 years remained stable, whereas patients over 65 years showed a significant age-dependent increase with an exponential rise in men aged 80 + with the highest incidence being 122.4/100 000 inhabitants annually. We recorded high levels of co-morbidity and nursing care dependency for elderly patients after acetabular fracture. Although 43% of patients were treated in hospitals > 500 beds, acetabular fractures were managed across all hospital sizes. CONCLUSIONS: There is a rapidly increasing incidence of geriatric acetabular fractures, predominantly driven by elderly male patients over 80 years. Patients over 65 years are associated with high rates of co-morbidities and nursing care levels.