Clinical Characteristics in Geriatric Sternal Fracture: Comparison with Non-Geriatric People

Background: The objects of this study is to compare the clinical aspects and characteristics of the sternal fracture between non-old aged and the old aged. Methods: This study is based on 105 patients who were diagnosed as a sternal fracture at the emergency center of Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital from January of 2001 to June of 2007. Results: The overall clinical presentations of sternal fracture of the old aged are similar to that of non-old aged. There were some differences in the patterns of spinal fracture occurred with sternal fracture between non-old aged and the old aged. In non-old aged group, there were 7 patients (8.6%), who had the facture of spine along with sternal fracture, and there were 4 male and 3 females. In the old aged group, there were 4 male and 4 female patients out of 8 patients. There were 2 female patients who had both thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures in the old aged group. Conclusion: There were many cases of injury which were accompanied with the sternal fracture. When the two groups are compared, the spinal facture were more often in the old aged group. Especially, the fracture of lumbar spine occurred more frequent in the old aged group.