Fracture Patterns in Saudi Arabian Road Traffic Accidents Over the Last 12 Years: A Systematic Review

Background: Road traffic accidents are a major non-communicable epidemic that accounts for death and morbidity in the world today. Despite considerable attention given to health statistics of road traffic accidents (RTAs), the pattern of bone fracture aspects of injuries resulting from RTAs is not fully understood in Saudi Arabia. This review aimed to study the epidemiological pattern of fractures due to RTAs in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This systematic review was based on the latest evidence of RTA fractures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (SAUDI ARABIA). All articles published during the last 12 years on road traffic accident-associated fractures in SAUDI ARABIA were analyzed. We examined 12 studies published between 2012 and 2022. Eleven included studies were cross-sectional studies and collected data retrospectively, while one study was a cohort. Results: A total of 4709 patients with fractures admitted in 2010–2022, followed by road traffic accidents, were included. Male patients accounted for 81.6% (n = 3843) of all fractures reported. The most commonly fractured body areas were the upper limb extremities (30.05%), followed by lower limb extremities (11.30%), head or skull fracture (10.53%), spine fracture (8.83%), ribs fracture (8.52%), neck fracture (8.09%), pelvis fracture (3.44%), clavicle fracture (1.89%), and sternal fracture (0.28%). Among the upper limb fractures, the femur bone was most fractured (17.06%), and the combined tibia patella and fibula accounted for 17.69% of upper limb fractures. Conclusion: Lower limb fractures, especially femur bone fractures, are prevalent in Saudi Arabia, and caused by RTAs, especially among young males. Therefore, the concerned authorities need to employ and implement stricter traffic rules to minimize the risk of RTA fractures and their subsequent increased morbidity and mortality rates