Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are emerging as an epidemic and a rising cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric age. Fractures and dislocations predominate in these injuries. Most of these injuries are easily diagnosed and managed due to their common injury pattern, clinical presentation and location, while some are uncommon and present with an unusual pattern so misdiagnosed or completely overlooked because of their rarity or lack of proper evaluation.
Objective: This study was done to present the epidemiology, etiology, and pattern of uncommon orthopedic injuries in children to show our experience with these uncommon injuries at a tertiary trauma center, and to determine whether any skeletal survey would promote the ability to make early diagnosis and accordingly afford best management for a good outcome.
Methods: A retrospective observational, hospital-based study of 30 children aged 0-14 years who presented to the emergency department and outpatient clinics with a history of trauma and sustained rare orthopedic injuries and fracture/dislocations, in the period between 1996 and 2018 at Al jalaa Trauma Hospital, Benghazi-Libya. The site affected was: 16 (53.3%) had the upper limbs, 13 (43.3%) had the lower limbs affected, and one (3.3%) had a pelvic injury. There were 24 (80%) boys and 6 (20%) girls. Mechanism of injury was falling from standing (FDS) in 20 (66.6%), road traffic accidents (RTA) in 6 (20%), fall from height (FDH) in 3 (10%), and one patient (3.3%) was due to a gunshot wound (GSW). Eleven patients (36.6%) were treated conservatively, whereas 18 (60%) were treated operatively and one had operative and non-operative methods (3.3%). The follow-up period was extended to 18 months and disability and complications were recorded including any subsequent procedure and implant removal.
Conclusion: The high incidence of pediatric trauma indicates the need for proper assessment and radiologic surveys to pick up potentially rare injuries.
Keywords: uncommon injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, pediatric orthopedic, children.
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Corresponding Author
Mabrouk S. Bohalfaya
M.D. Arab Board, M.D. Libyan Board Orthopedics, Associate Professor Faculty of Medicine Benghazi University - Benghazi, Hawari General Hospital, Orthopedic Department
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v11i2.30
