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Biomechanical analysis of arm fracture in obese boys
P L Davidson1, A Goulding, D J Chalmers
1Injury Prevention Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. peter.davidson@ipru.otago.ac.nz
Objective:
To determine the role of the biomechanical factors of force of impact, bone strength, fall height and surface stiffness on the risk of forearm fracture in obese children compared to non-obese children.
Methodology:
Anthropometric and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry bone density data from 50 boys (25 obese pair-matched with 25 non-obese subjects) aged 4-17 years were entered into a rheological-stochastic simulation model of arm impact.
Results:
Obese children were shown to be at 1.7 times greater risk of fracture compared to non-obese children. Lower fall heights and softer impact surfaces were found not to reduce the relative risk of fracture between obese and non-obese children.
Conclusions:
Environmental modifications are unlikely to lower the risk of arm fracture in obese children to the same levels experienced by non-obese children. The best option available for obese children to reduce fracture risk is to take steps to attain a healthy bodyweight.
