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Fracture patterns in Nottingham children
Insights
Pediatric fractures in Nottingham show an annual incidence of 16 per 1,000 children, with falls being the most common cause. Distal radius/ulna fractures and green-stick fractures were most frequent in children up to 12 years old.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Orthopedics
- Epidemiology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Fractures are common injuries in childhood, but their incidence and patterns vary by age and mechanism.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the incidence and patterns of fractures in children aged 12 years and under in Nottingham, England.
- To identify the most common fracture sites, types, and causes in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric fracture cases in Nottingham.
- Analysis of incidence rates, fracture locations, fracture types, and causative mechanisms.
Main Results:
- The annual incidence rate of pediatric fractures was 16 per 1,000 children.
- Falls at home were the most common cause of fractures.
- Distal radius and ulna fractures (35.8%) and green-stick fractures (51.6%) were the most prevalent types.
- Epiphyseal injuries were less common in younger children (<5 years), with spiral/oblique fractures being more frequent.
Conclusions:
- Fracture incidence increases with age in children, with falls being the primary cause.
- Specific fracture patterns, like green-stick and distal radius/ulna fractures, are common in this age group.
- Age influences fracture type, with rotational trauma causing shaft fractures in younger children and epiphyseal injuries in older children.
Abstract:
The incidence and pattern of fractures in children less than or equal to 12 years of age living in Nottingham, England, have been reviewed. The annual incidence rate is 16/1,000 children. Fractures are rare in those less than 18 months of age, and incidence increases with age. The most common cause of fracture was a fall in or around the home; the incidence rate of fractures after road traffic accidents was similar in all age groups. Fractures of the distal radius and ulna accounted for 35.8% of all fractures seen, with hand fractures the second largest group (14.7%). The most common fracture type was a green-stick fracture (51.6%), and 18.5% of fractures were epiphyseal injuries. Epiphyseal injuries in children less than 5 years of age, were uncommon whereas spiral/oblique fractures were more common. Rotational trauma is more likely to cause a spiral or oblique shaft fracture in a younger child and an epiphyseal fracture in an older child.