Radiographic pattern of skeletal trauma in children seen in a tertiary hospital in Sagamu, South West Nigeria

Abstract

The study was aimed at identifying the pattern of skeletal trauma in the paediatric age group as it relates to the causes. A retrospective analysis of the records on the request cards, case notes, radiographs and reports (where available) of all children aged one day to 15 years who were referred to the radiology department of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu was carried out. Fractures were analysed with respect to sex, age, causes, type and location of fracture. The analysis spanned a period of twenty-eight months during which a total of three hundred and twenty eight radiographs were analysed. The mean ages of male and female patients were 5.4±4.6 and 5.1±4.6 years, respectively, with a range of 0.2-15 years. Normal radiographs were found in 124 (37.80%) patients,53.1 (16.1%) had 55 fractures, and 39 (11.9%) had soft tissue swelling. Fractures were found most commonly in male children and in the age range 4-6 years. Fractures occur three times more in the upper limbs, and the bones most frequently affected are the humerus, radius, and the ulna in descending order. Most of the fractures were due to Road Traffic Injury (RTI) seen in 18.9%, falls seen in 18.9%, and birth trauma, which was responsible for 7.5%. The most frequently involved bone in fractures is the humerus followed by the femur bone. Skull fractures occur mostly in the parietal bone. Fractures are still mostly investigated with plain radiographs. Fractures are more frequent in male children and in the 4-6 year age range; it is seen more in the upper limb bones especially in the humerus. Skull fractures are relatively rare. Half of the fractures occur in the distal and mid portions of long bones. This study has also high lighted the importance of road traffic injury and falls as aetiological factors in fracture occurring in children. Effort should be made to ease deliveries in order to reduce the incidence of birth trauma.