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The social destiny of 54 patients with femoral neck and trochanteric fractures was analysed by interview three to five years after the operation and the results were compared with those of 48 control subjects of the same age. In addition to this 50 patients with a similar fracture not yet operated were asked the same questions and the results were compared with those of control subjects of the same age . The groups did not differ in terms of marital status, education and in state of health. The operated patients walked daily less than the control subjects. The capacity for self care of the not yet operated patients before the injury was more often reduced and they had to be helped in all daily activities more often than the control subjects. At follow up the ability to move of operated patients had deteriorated and every second patient had died. Of the operated patients, which were prior to the injury able to work, 40 per cent returned to work after the convalescent.

During the 1987–1990 ski seasons. 325 consecutive patients sustained downhill skiing injuries at a skiing area in central Finland. The calculated injury rate was 0.94 per 1000 skier-days (0.9%) and 0.56 per 1000 skiers (0.06%). Forty-one percent of the injuries were located in the lower limbs and 37% in the upper limbs. Sprain was the most common type of injury (34%), followed by fractures (22%) and contusions (17%). Only 7% of the patients needed surgery. The estimated mean cost of medical treatment and sick leave was FIM 5500 (USD 1400) per patient.

We analyzed prospectively the incidence, the intrinsic and extrinsic factors and the consequences of falls during a 7-month period in 4 institutions in Finland in 1993. A total of 370 falls among 160 patients were recorded. Of the fallers 56% fell once and 44% more than once (range 2-24). The mean fall rate in men was higher than that in women (p < 0.01). Fallen men were younger but less ambulatory than women. Of the falls 95% occurred without eyewitness and 27% during the night shift; 30% (114/370) resulted in an injury and 7% (11/160) of the fallers suffered a fracture.

The author presents the long-term results of a proximal metatarsal osteotomy in hallux valgus. The results are based on clinical findings and radiographs.

A prospective study of male soccer injuries among 12 teams playing at the highest competition level was carried out in Finland in 1993. Overall, two out of three players were injured during the whole season. The injury incidence per 1000 playing hours among injured players and all players during games was higher than during practice, 14.2 vs. 11.3 and 2.3 vs. 1.8, respectively. The lower extremity was involved in 76% of the injuries. Thigh injuries were most frequent (22%), whereas overuse injuries were scarce (6%). Eighteen per cent of the injured players needed surgery and in most cases (58%) the reason for surgery was a knee injury. Sixteen per cent of all injured players were absent from soccer for more than 1 month after the injury. The mean absence time was 17 days for all and 84 days for operatively treated players.

We studied prospectively the demographic data, fracture types and modes of treatment in 390 patients with acute traumatic hip fractures in two health care regions in Finland, the Middle Finland region and the Kymenlaakso region in 1989. In Middle Finland population (251,203 inhabitants) 199 patients with a hip fracture were admitted to two acute care hospitals, while 191 patients were admitted in Kymenlaakso (population 189,726) to four acute hospitals. There were no significant differences in the sex- and age-specific incidences between the two regions. In Middle Finland, 70% of the fractures were of the femoral neck, 28% were trochanteric and 2% subtrochanteric. The corresponding figures in Kymenlaakso were 57%, 38% and 5% (P0.05). In Middle Finland, 73% of the femoral neck fractures were treated primarily with a hemiendoprosthesis, 2% with primary total hip replacement and 25% by osteosynthesis. The corresponding figures in Kymenlaakso were 81%, 7% and 12% (P0.001). The mean duration of hospital stay was 14 days in Middle Finland and 21 days in Kymenlaakso (P0.01).