Citation

Dodd A, Paolucci EO, Parsons D. Injury 2013; 44(11): 1502-1506.

Affiliation

Orthopedic Surgery Residency Training Program, University of Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: Andrew.dodd@ucalgary.ca.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2013.02.012

PMID

23481316

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Trauma remains a substantial cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality. Femur fractures are common in children, and frequently are the result of high-energy mechanisms of injury. A complete description of missed injuries in this population has not previously been described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of patients presenting to the Alberta Children's Hospital with femoral shaft fractures was performed. Associated injuries, and injuries with delayed diagnosis were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-percent of the patients suffered at least one other injury with their femur fracture. Six-percent of injuries had a delayed diagnosis, corresponding to three-percent of the patients reviewed. CONCLUSION: There is a risk of missed injuries in the paediatric patient presenting with a femoral shaft fracture. Paediatric trauma teams and paediatric orthopaedic teams must be aware of this risk to help reduce the incidence of missed injuries. A tertiary trauma survey on children with paediatric femoral shaft fractures may help diagnose missed injuries.

Language: en