Epidemiology of paediatric lower extremity fractures in a tertiary care center in Switzerland.
Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 2020;
48:3449-3459. [PMID:
32462374 DOI:
10.1007/s00068-020-01400-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
About 20% of all fractures in children occur at the lower extremity. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology and injury pattern of lower extremity fractures within the pediatric population consulting a tertiary referral hospital in Switzerland.
METHODS
Study population included all patients up to 16 years presenting with a lower extremity fracture over a period of one year. Recorded data were age, gender, side, season of the year, mechanism, type of fracture and applied treatment.
RESULTS
Fractures of the lower extremity represent 23% of all fractures with a mean age of 9 years and 6 months. The tibia, with 94 fractures (38%), represents the most frequently injured bone. Peak incidence is seen in winter and 24% of tibia shaft fractures were due to board sports. Overall, 82% of fractures were treated by cast with or without closed reduction, and only 18% requested surgery.
CONCLUSION
Board sports seems to be a leading cause of tibial shaft fracture in our region. Nevertheless, only 18% of fractures had recourse to an orthopedic surgeon, hence the importance of the teaching quality of pediatric residents for conservative fracture treatment.
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