PEDIATRIC FRACTURES IN A TERTIARY PUBLIC HOSPITAL: WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH?

Orthopedic trauma is significant in modern society due to its incidence and its impact on healthcare and social interactions. Concerns include the risk of permanent sequelae affecting individual development and causing social stigma. Fractures, while not the most lethal lesion, may result in physical variable disability; publications show that about 30% of children experience fractures by skeletal maturity, primarily from low-energy trauma. This study aims to identify the fracture patterns in the immature skeleton at a tertiary-level public hospital.

Individuals with skeletally immature fractures of the locomotor system, treated at a tertiary-level emergency unit from January 2016 to January 2020, were included. Data collected included social characteristics, trauma origin, fracture descriptors, and treatment modality. Age groups: infant, preschool, school-age, adolescent. Trauma energy is classified as low, moderate, or high.

A total of 926 cases were recorded in 505 patients, with a predominance of males. The most affected bones were the radius (29.5%), humerus (24.2%), and ulna (15.8%). The metaphysis was the most common location (46.7%), followed by the diaphysis (33.2%). Falls accounted for the largest portion, at 64.7%, with the majority (364) being low-energy trauma. High-energy trauma, such as pedestrian accidents and car accidents, represented 13.7%, and of these, 54.2% were polytraumatized.

Fractures of the forearm persist as the most common, particularly at the distal third of the radius, with males being more exposed. Climatic seasonality and cultural traits such as soccer practice have little impact on the epidemiology of fractures. The results obtained in this investigation resemble those obtained by international literature.