Maham Tariq, Raheel Ahmad, Sara Malik, Mehwish Changeez, Anum Iftikhar and Usman Akram
Introduction: Fractures are a leading cause of emergency presentation in pediatric age group and comprise 9% cause of healthcare presentation in children. About 1/3rd fractures in young age occur before 7 years of age 3, but are particularly prevalent in ages between 10-14 years and especially involve the male gender. Growing bone has the remarkable tendency of being able to correct underlying displacement as well as the risk of growth disturbance.
Patients and Methods: A Cross-sectional study was carried at Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, which are affiliated with Rawalpindi Medical University. All children older than 6 months and younger than fourteen years of age presenting between January 2017 and June 2017 were included in the study. All concerned data was collected on a predesigned questionnaire.
Results: Total two hundred pediatric patients were enrolled in the study, out of which 139 (69.5%) were males and 61 (30.5%) were females, with a mean age of 8.9 ± 2.7 years. The most vulnerable group was between 6 to 10 years and the most common cause was fall. 97.5% of patients had closed fractures and only 2.5% had open fractures. 143 (71.5%) were from the urban area and only 57 (28.5%) were from rural areas.
Conclusion: Long bone fractures in children are very common. Early detection and timely management of these fractures is the key to better outcomes and preventing disabilities in young people.