Children's fractures: a population based study

• DOI: 10.1136/ip.5.2.129
• Publication Date: 2008-12-31T23:59:59Z
• Authors: Ronan A Lyons; Annie M Delahunty; Debbie Kraus; Martin Heaven; Mike McCabe; Howard Allen; Pam Nash
• Keywords: Male; Wales; Adolescent; Incidence; Bone and Bones; United Kingdom; 3. Good health; Fractures, Bone; 03 medical and health sciences; Age Distribution; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; Child, Preschool; Population Surveillance; Humans; Female; Registries; Sex Distribution; Child

Objective —To measure the incidence of childhood fractures in a defined population. Setting —Accident and emergency (A&E) departments covering Swansea Neath Port Talbot areas South Wales 1996. Methods —Linkage data from A&E with population to produce fracture rates by anatomical site cause children aged 0–14 years. Results —During 1996, 2463 new occurred 2399 residents yielding rate 36.1/1000 children. Fractures were more common boys than girls increased age both groups. Sports leisure activities accounted for 36% fractures, assaults 3.5%, road traffic accidents 1.4%. radius/ulna most frequent (36%). Conclusions —The is twice reported previous studies. Further research required elucidate reasons behind this high rate. Many could be prevented use safer surfaces school playgrounds, wrist protection in-line skaters possibly soccer players.