Neonatal Femoral Fracture: 5 Years of Experience

Abstract

Background: In the absence of any postnatal trauma, birth fractures are those that are identified within the first week of life. Infant birth-related injuries are generally infrequent and are caused by trauma during delivery, especially when the infant is particularly large or presented breech. Methods: This investigation was a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka, in the department of Burn & Reconstructive Surgery. The study was carried out between June 2015 and July 2020. The study used a 21 neonates as sample basis. Result: In this retrospective study, the gestational age of 1 patient was 35 Weeks and followed by two were 36 weeks, 4 were 37 weeks, 6 were 38 weeks, 5 were 39 weeks, and 3 were 40 weeks. 11(52%) were female and 10(48%) were male. Majority 13(62%) patients fracture were right site and 8(38%) were left. 13 newborns, or 61.9% of them, were weighted ≥2500 g. Nine infants (42.9%) were delivered vaginally, while 12 (57.1%) underwent Caesarean sections. When the fetus was presented, it was cephalic in seven cases (33.3%) and breech in fourteen (66.7%). Depending on the fracture's location and angulation, the appropriate treatment option was chosen. Femoral shaft fractures were treated in a toe-groin cast, 5(23.8%), while subtrochanteric fractures were treated by strapping 16(76.2%) of the thigh to the abdomen. Conclusion: Even though femoral fractures now are uncommon, but after birth they should be watched for, especially in challenging caesarean sections.