Pattern of bone injury in Ibadan.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Traumatology
• Epidemiology of Musculoskeletal Injuries

Background:

• Fractures and dislocations are common pediatric injuries.
• Understanding injury patterns and outcomes is crucial for effective treatment.
• Previous data on pediatric trauma epidemiology in this region is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology of fractures and dislocations in a large pediatric cohort.
• To analyze injury mechanisms, affected skeletal sites, and treatment modalities.
• To evaluate treatment outcomes and complication rates, comparing findings with international data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1,329 pediatric patients with fractures and dislocations.
• Data collection included patient demographics, injury type, cause, affected site, treatment, and outcomes.
• Comparison of fracture incidence (femoral shaft, femoral neck) with American populations.

Main Results:

• A total of 1,329 patients (1,327 fractures, 100 dislocations) were studied; boys under 10 predominated.
• Falls and road traffic accidents were the leading causes; upper limb fractures were most common.
• Elbow and shoulder dislocations were most frequent; conservative treatment was prevalent (88.5%).
• Femoral shaft fractures were more common, while femoral neck fractures were less common than in American children.
• Prognosis for survival and function was very good, with malunion being the most frequent complication.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric fractures and dislocations are common, often resulting from falls and traffic accidents.
• Upper limb injuries and elbow/shoulder dislocations are prevalent in this pediatric population.
• While functional outcomes are generally excellent, malunion requires attention in conservative management strategies.