Paediatric trauma Flashcards
Is a male or female child more likely to experience trauma?
Boys
Risk factor surrounding paediatric trauma?
Risk Factors: > Boys 60% > Girls 40% > Age > Increased physeal injury with age > Previous fracture > Metabolic bone disease
Children’s fracture principles - Children’s fractures are often simple, incomplete & heal quickly, why?
Children’s fractures are often simple, incomplete & heal quickly:
> Metabolically active periosteum
> Cellular bone
> Plastic
Children’s fracture principles - Children’s fractures are often simple, incomplete & heal quickly - Application of management?
> Fixation is not usually required
Do not over immobilise
Do not over treat
Children’s fracture principles - Remodel well in plane of joint movement, why?
Remodel well in plane of joint movement:
> Appositional periosteal growth/resorption
> Differential physeal growth
Children’s fracture principles - Remodel well in plane of joint movement - Application of management?
APPLICATION: > Younger child > Polar fractures > Intact growing physis > Sagittal>Frontal X Transverse
FACT = Children’s fracture principles - A thick periosteal hinge is (usually) a friend…but needs to be understood
A thick periosteal hinge is (usually) a friend…but needs to be understood
FACT = Fractures involving physes can result in progressive deformity?
> Deformity - Elbow
Arrest – Knee, Ankle
(Overgrowth – Femur)
Forearm fractures in children site?
> Shaft fractures
> Special cases:
- Galaezzi (Radius)
- Monteggia (Ulna)
> Distal radius fractures
Type of Forearm fractures in children - Low energy?
> Buckle
> Greenstick
Type of Forearm fractures in children - High energy?
> Open
Displaced
Soft tissue injury
Type of Forearm fractures in children - High energy?
> Open
Displaced
Soft tissue injury
Assessment in a child fracture?
> History – Mechanism
> Deformity
> Soft tissues
- Whole limb
- Wounds
- Sensation, Motor fcn
- Vascular status
Outcome in closed fractures in children?
90-95% good functional results
Open fracture treatments in children?
Open/Flex nail
> Restored anatomy, early mobilisation
> Hardware migration, nerve injury, delayed union.
> 33% plate, 42% IM complication (Smith et al, JPO 2005)
> ‘Parental pressure for perfection’