Incidence and Trends in Femur Shaft Fractures in Swedish Children Between 1987 and 2005

• DOI: 10.1097/bpo.0b013e31821f9027
• Publication Date: 2011-06-08T09:45:14Z
• Authors: Johan von Heideken; Tobias Svensson; Paul Blomqvist; Yvonne Haglund-Åk...; Per-Mats Janarv
• Keywords: Femur fracture; Diagnosis code

Background The surgical treatment of femur shaft fractures in children is changing, and the time spent hospital shorter than before. purpose this nationwide epidemiology study to report incidence pediatric Sweden during 1987 2005 by age, sex, cause injury, severity seasonal variation, analyze change incidence, modalities, length stay over time. Methods Children (N=4984) with a diagnostic code for fracture were selected from Swedish National Hospital Discharge Registry. Results overall annual per 100,000 was 22.9 boys 9.5 girls. declined 42%, on average 3% year, 19.4 11.8 between (P<0.001). most common injury younger 4 years age fall <1 m; 12 sports accidents frequent injury; 13 14 traffic accidents. month occurrence had bimodal variation peak March August. Treatment modalities changing period use traction an increased external fixation elastic intramedullary nailing. decreased 81%, 26 days 5 (P<0.001), but no correlation introduction new methods. Conclusions present shows decrease shift stay. Level Evidence III, retrospective comparative study.