Peds

Fractures in Children

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Fractures in Children, Pediatric Fractures

  • Pathophysiology
  • Anatomical differences in children result in unique Fracture patterns
  1. Pediatric bone is more porous and less dense (more pliable)
    1. Bowing or plastic deformity
    2. Buckle or torus Fracture
    3. Greenstick Fracture
  2. Growth Plates (epiphsyeal plates) are weaker than ligaments, tendons and bone
    1. Growth Plate Fractures (Epiphyseal Fractures) are more common than sprains in children
    2. Periosteal bone is relatively thick by comparison
  • Types
  • Upper extremity Fractures and injuries in children
  • Types
  • Lower extremity Fractures and injuries in children
  1. Hip and Pelvis Fracture
    1. Pelvic Fracture
    2. Hip Fracture
    3. Femoral Shaft Fracture
    4. Distal Femoral Fracture
    5. Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
  2. Knee injuries
    1. Patella dislocation
    2. Patella Fracture
  3. Tibia and fibula injuries
    1. Tibial spine Fracture
    2. Tibial tuberosity Fracture
    3. Proximal tibial physis Fracture
    4. Tibia and fibula shaft Fracture
    5. Toddler's Fracture
  4. Ankle injuries
    1. Distal fibula Fracture
    2. Distal tibia Fracture
  5. Foot injuries
    1. Lisfranc Fracture
    2. Fifth Metatarsal Fracture
  • Imaging
  1. XRay
    1. See Epiphyseal Fracture
  2. Ultrasound
    1. High accuracy in diagnosing upper extremity Fracture (aside from elbow Fractures)
      1. Tsou (2021) Am J Emerg Med 44:383-94 [PubMed]
  • Management
  • General
  1. Ibuprofen or Tylenol are typically sufficient for home Analgesics
    1. Opioid Analgesics are not commonly needed for home pediatric Fracture management after Splinting
    2. Ibuprofen does not appear to significantly delay Fracture healing
      1. DePeter (2017) J Emerg Med 52(4): 426-32 +PMID:27751698 [PubMed]
  1. Emergent surgical Consultation indications
    1. Open Fracture
    2. Neurovascular injury (or high risk for neurovascular injury, such as for supracondylar Fracture)
    3. Unreducible joint dislocation (uncommon in children)
  2. Urgent surgical Consultation indications
    1. Unstable Fracture (Radius and Ulna Fracture, tibia and fibula Fracture, displaced tibia Fracture)
    2. Salter Harris III or IV Epiphyseal Fracture (involving joint capsule or cartilage)
    3. Fracture-dislocation (e.g. Galeazzi Fracture)
  3. Routine follow-up care (1-2 weeks)
    1. Small, non-displaced Fractures of non-weight bearing bones
    2. Buckle Fractures (Torus Fractures)
    3. Clavicle Fractures (without tenting or vascular injury)
  • References
  1. Majoewsky in Herbert (2012) EM:RAP C3 2(7): 3