OBJECTIVE: To identify the distribution and topographic frequency of thoracic extremity fractures and its association with bone cortex thickness, mechanism of injury, age and gender. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in patients older than 18 years old treated at the Traumatology and Orthopedics Service of the Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad with diagnosis of fracture of the thoracic limb. RESULTS: 99 patients with a diagnosis of upper limb fracture were studied. 54.4% of the cases were female. The overall mean age was 46.22 +16.36 years with a range of 56 years (21 to 77 years), therefore age intervals were constructed; This type of affectation was more frequent in the ages of 21 to 34 years (32.3%), followed by 35 to 48 years (26.3%), 63 to 77 years and 49 to 62 years, with percentages of 24.2% and 17.2%, respectively. No difference was found between the mean age between sex (p> 0.05). The most common anatomical sites of the thoracic segment were the distal radius and the diaphysis of both the radius and the humerus. The most frequent mechanism of injury were falls. CONCLUSION: Population groups of young active military men and older women are risk groups for thoracic extremity fractures in which measures can be taken to reduce the incidence of fractures.
