Subtle fractures in children

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to review the initial clinical presentation of EDH, identify potential clinical markers and highlight diagnostic pitfalls. METHODS: Retrospective review of all pediatric patients admitted to a Level I Trauma Center diagnosed with blunt traumatic EDH from 2008 to 2018. RESULTS: A total of 699 pediatric patients were identified with blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI); 106 with EDH made up the study population...

INTRODUCTION: Calcaneal fractures are rare in children. These fractures are often misdiagnosed as a consequence of their subtle clinical and radiographic presentation. The purpose of this paper was to identify prognostic factors on the basis of type of fracture, age and treatment. This would enable suggestions to be made with regards to treatment for these fractures. METHODS: A full literature search was performed to find studies that were clinically orientated, in the English language and involved children (under the age of 16)...

Fractures are common in children, although accurate diagnosis is confounded by mimics of fractures some of which are unique to the pediatric population. Such fracture mimics include developmental variations of the growth plates, normal anatomic structures that simulate fracture lines, and/or metabolic disorders that alter the pattern of ossification. Although subtle clues on plain radiographs may help to discriminate between a true fracture or injury and a fracture mimic, MR imaging may be helpful to eliminate uncertainty or expedite diagnosis...

Blowout fractures of the floor of the orbit can serve as a "trap door" for extraocular muscles. Presentation of inferior orbital muscle entrapment classically involves an upward gaze restriction. Diplopia and exophthalmos can also be present. Rarely, orbital fractures can result in an oculocardiac reflex, which is a triad of bradycardia, syncope, and nausea. The purpose of this study was to describe a patient who had orbital floor fracture with symptoms highly suggestive for oculocardiac reflex after a traumatic injury...

CASE: Spine injuries are rare in children, but when they do occur, the synchondrosis of C2 may be involved. A 5-year-old boy presented to our clinic complaining of neck pain for 6 weeks, which started after wrestling with peers. He had slight upper extremity weakness, clonus, and diminished reflexes. Imaging, including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, showed a fracture dislocation through the synchondrosis of the odontoid. The patient was initially treated with admission to the hospital, awake halo placement, and gradual traction over a few days...

BACKGROUND: Fractures are the second most common finding in non-accidental trauma after cutaneous signs. Interpreting skeletal surveys could be challenging as some fractures are subtle and due to anatomical variations that can mimic injuries. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a second read by a pediatric radiologist of skeletal surveys for suspected non-accidental trauma initially read at referring hospitals by general radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 2016 and 2017, we identified all patients referred to our children's hospital with previous surveys performed and read at a community hospital by an outside radiologist...

Trampoline fractures are transversely oriented impaction fractures of the proximal tibia sustained by young children jumping on a trampoline. Unaware of the mechanism of this specific nontraumatic fracture, physicians may fail to detect these fractures on plain radiographs, as radiological findings may be very subtle. In this case report, we present a rare case of bilateral trampoline fractures with an explanation of the trauma mechanism.

Tibial fractures in children present a wide array of challenges to the managing orthopaedic surgeon. Injuries cover a spectrum from subtle tibial spine fractures to comminuted high-energy shaft fractures requiring free flap coverage. Significant risks range from malunion and leg length discrepancy to infected nonunions and Volkmann ischemic contracture. This article offers evidence and experience-based advice that is aimed at helping the community orthopaedic surgeon taking call.

Mutations in the PLS3 gene, encoding Plastin 3, were described in 2013 as a cause for X-linked primary bone fragility in children. The specific role of PLS3 in bone metabolism remains inadequately understood. Here we describe for the first time PLS3 deletions as the underlying cause for childhood-onset primary osteoporosis in 3 boys from 2 families. We carried out thorough clinical, radiological, and bone tissue analyses to explore the consequences of these deletions and to further elucidate the role of PLS3 in bone homeostasis...

BACKGROUND: There has been limited published information regarding capitellar fractures in the pediatric population. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize capitellar fracture patterns in children and adolescents and to assess early clinical and radiographic treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 37 children and adolescents with capitellar fractures presenting to a tertiary pediatric hospital from 2004 to 2014 was performed. The mean patient age at the time of injury was 11...

BACKGROUND: Serious isolated laryngeal injuries are uncommon in children. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of an 8-year-old boy with laryngeal injury and pneumomediastinum due to minor blunt neck trauma. He presented to the emergency department complaining of odynophagia and hoarseness, but without respiratory distress. Emphysema was seen between the trachea and vertebral body on initial cervical spine x-ray study, and flexible laryngoscopy revealed erythema and mild edema of both the right vocal cord and the arytenoid region...

Brachialis periosteal avulsion injury is an uncommon injury occurring in young children. The injury may be misinterpreted or overlooked because of misleading or subtle radiological findings. A case of 7-year-old child with post-traumatic elbow pain and subtle findings on elbow radiography is presented. The injury was initially misinterpreted as an avulsion fracture of the medial epicondyle. Following radiological review, a diagnosis of brachialis periosteal avulsion injury was made. The radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this injury are presented to stress the value of comparing the radiographic findings with previous imaging and to increase awareness of this uncommon injury...

OBJECTIVES: Skull fractures can be difficult to recognize on radiographs and axial computed tomography (CT) bone windows. Missed findings may delay abuse diagnosis. The role of three-dimensional (3-D) reconstructions in child abuse evaluations was retrospectively evaluated. METHODS: Twelve exemplary cases between August 2006 and July 2009 are described. All, except 2 medical-legal cases, were clinical abuse consultations. With the use of a 1-to-3 scale, ease and accuracy of interpretation of findings between plain films, bone windows, and 3-D CT images were independently assessed by 2 radiologists...

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The condition primarily results from the combination of impaired free water excretion due to elevated vasopressin levels in conjunction with a source of free water intake. Recent studies have revealed that even mild and asymptomatic hyponatremia is associated with deleterious consequences. It is an independent risk factor for mortality and is also associated with increased length of hospitalization and hospital costs...

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the anterior tilt angle of the proximal tibia epiphyseal plate in young children, which suffered a trampoline fracture in comparison with a normal population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 62 children (31 females, 31 males) between 2 and 5 years of age (average 2 years 11 months, standard deviation 11 months) with radiographs in two views of the tibia were included in this retrospective study. 25 children with proximal tibia fractures were injured with a history of jumping on a trampoline...

Occult fractures due to child abuse can be difficult to identify because there is usually no history of trauma, and chief complaints are vague. In addition, the osseous injuries are often subtle, becoming obvious only after healing begins. Missed injuries can lead to inappropriate disposition of a patient and can cause children to be placed at high risk for further injury and death. It is therefore imperative that these children be diagnosed as soon as possible. Ultrasound has some properties that are desirable for detecting fractures, especially in children...

Rarely do orthopedic injuries in children present with dysphagia. Acute onset dysphagia after falling or getting tackled with subtle symptoms or unremarkable physical examination findings should raise suspicion for posterior dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ). A case is described and used to highlight an uncommon cause of dysphagia in children. It can be easily missed because the presenting symptoms and physical examination findings are subtle. Standard radiographs are not sufficient for diagnosis, and a high degree of suspicion is necessary to pursue further diagnostic studies...

BACKGROUND: Because of the changing referral patterns, operative pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures are increasingly being treated at tertiary referral centers. To expedite patient flow, type II fractures are sometimes pinned in a delayed manner. We sought to determine if delay in surgical treatment of modified Gartland type II supracondylar humerus fractures would affect the rate of complications following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 399 modified Gartland type II supracondylar fractures treated operatively at a tertiary referral center over 4 years...

The bones of infants and children are soft and so they tend to buckle and bend rather than frankly break. In addition, to accommodate growth, epiphyseal plates exist. These areas represent weak zones in the long bones and shearing/twisting forces cause fractures. All of this results in fractures different than what one sees in adults and this communication deals with how to identify these fractures, how to appreciate the more subtle of these fractures, and how to utilize comparative views for the subtle cases...

INTRODUCTION: Triceps avulsion fracture rupture is a rare tendon. Radiography remains the initial imaging modality of choice for evaluating a suspected triceps injury. However, in children the osseous insertion may not be visible on standard plain film imaging if it is partially ossified. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 8-year-old child presented to Accident and Emergency complaining of localised pain over the right olecranon following a fall onto an outstretched hand...