Abstract
Background and Objective: Fractures and dislocations in a growing child is a concern to parents and hospitals alike because any mismanagement leaves a lifelong disability. There is limited data on epidemiology of fractures in children in Saudi Arabia.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and pattern of pediatric fractures and dislocation.
Setting: King Fahd Hospital of the University.
Design: Retrospective.
Method: All pediatric patients with a skeletal injury admitted to the hospital between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2009 were included. Data documented included age, sex, type of accident, injury sustained, associated injuries, surgery performed, emergency or elective, type of implant used and any complications.
Result: Two hundred fifty-four patients sustained 302 fractures and dislocations. One hundred fifty-nine were boys and 95 were girls. One hundred twenty-four (48.8%) of the injuries were sustained at home and 75 (29.52%) were related to motorized vehicles. Lower extremities were involved in 139 patients, upper extremities in 125 and spinal fractures were seen in 9 patients. Seven patients had dislocations (4 elbows, one hip and 2 ankle joints). One hundred ninety-four (76.4%) had emergency surgery and the rest of the children had elective procedure. Thirty-nine patients (15.35%) had complications; the majority was repeat procedure and 3 patients had superficial infections.
Conclusion: Home accidents and trauma are common in this study; lower extremity fractures were seen in more than 50% of the patients. Admissions due to fractures have increased in the last few years. We believe that community education in injury prevention programs will definitely reduce the skeletal injuries in young population.