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Fractures in infants and toddlers with rickets

Teresa Chapman1, Naomi Sugar, Stephen Done

  • 1Department of Radiology, Seattle Children's Hospital, MS R-5417, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Teresa.chapman@seattlechildrens.org

Pediatric Radiology
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Fractures are observed in mobile infants and toddlers with overt rickets, appearing as long bone, rib, or metaphyseal breaks. These fractures are distinct from those seen in non-accidental trauma.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Rickets is a condition affecting young children, but literature on fracture types in these patients is limited.
  • Understanding fracture patterns in rickets is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the age at which radiographically evident rickets appears in children.
  • To characterize the age incidence and types of fractures in infants and toddlers with rickets.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of clinical data and radiographs from children under 24 months with radiographically evident rickets.
  • Radiographs were assessed for osteopenia, fraying-cupping, and fracture characteristics.

Main Results:

  • The study included 45 children aged 2-24 months with radiographically evident rickets.
  • Fractures were identified in 17.5% of cases, exclusively in mobile infants and toddlers with severe rickets.
  • Fracture types included transverse long bone, anterior/anterior-lateral rib, and metaphyseal fractures.

Conclusions:

  • Fractures in infants and toddlers with overt rickets are radiographically detectable.
  • The fracture patterns observed in this study do not mimic those of high-risk non-accidental trauma.
Abstract

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