Paediatric pelvic injuries: a retrospective epidemiological study from four level 1 trauma centers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Epidemiologic evaluation of pelvic ring injuries in children.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis over a period of 13 years, excluding pathological fractures. AO/OTA type, epidemiological data, type of treatment, and complications were recorded. Data were assessed using Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon test.

RESULTS

243 boys, 115 girls, mean age (SD) 14.1 ± 3.0 years, AO/OTA types: 281 A, 52 B, 25 C. Multiple trauma: 62, combined trauma: 59, mono-trauma: 237. 281 patients were treated non-operatively, 97 surgically.

ETIOLOGY

traffic accidents 88, falls from a great height 37, crushing injuries four, and sports injuries 192, simple falls 30, others seven. High-energy mechanisms prevailed in types B and C. Low-energy mechanism in type A (p < 0.0001). Similar differences were found between type A (p = 0.0009) and in case type C requiring surgery and cases treated non-operatively (p < 0.0001). Twenty-six patients (7.3%) had complications (pelvic asymmetry 5, neurological deficits 5, non-union 1, ectopic calcification 4, others 7). Higher complication rates were associated with types B and C (p = 0.0015), with surgically treated cases (p < 0.0001) and multiple trauma (p = 0.0305).

DISCUSSION

Results of this trial were comparable with other studies.

CONCLUSION

Sports injuries accounted for most type A injuries, while types B and C tended to be associated with high-energy trauma. Complications were associated with the severity of pelvic trauma, more common in surgically treated group of patients; this is primarily linked to the surgical cases being more serious as well as the associated injuries.