Objective:
Although bones are more flexible and have higher shock absorption ability in
childhood than in adulthood, bone fractures are often seen in children who
present to the emergency clinics after a trauma. This study was conducted to
identify the pattern and the rate of traumatic lower extremity fractures in
children.
Methods:
Files and X-rays of 485 patients aged under 18 years who presented to the Emergency
Department of the Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University
Healthcare Research and Application Hospital after a trauma were
retrospectively reviewed. Data of 146 children who presented with a trauma to
the lower extremity were examined. Fractures were assessed based on age groups,
gender, etiology, and the affected bone.
Results:
Of the 146 children who presented with a trauma to the lower extremity, 112
were male (77%) and 34 were female (23%). Traumas had been mostly experienced
in the summer, followed by spring, autumn, and winter. The femur was the most
commonly affected bone among the fractures caused by a trauma (n=32, 33.33%).
Single-bone fractures most commonly involved the femur, followed by the tibia,
the phalanx, and the metatarsal bones, whereas double-bone fractures most
commonly involved the tibia and the fibula. Falling down was the major cause of
trauma.
Conclusion:
We believe that the results of our study will help to better understand the occurrence
of traumatic lower extremity fractures in children and offer guidance for
taking the protective measures that will help to protect them, hence, to reduce
fractures.
Primary Language | English |
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Subjects | Health Care Administration |
Journal Section | Original Research |
Authors | |
Publication Date | March 27, 2019 |
Acceptance Date | March 19, 2019 |
Published in Issue | Year 2019 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 |