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Reduction of a hip dislocation should take place within 12 hours after the injury.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a disruption of the capital femoral physis that can occur over time.
Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease is an idiopathic avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head.
A spiral femur fracture in a nonambulatory infant or child suggests child abuse.
Distal femoral epiphyseal fractures in children can cause growth disturbances in the lower extremity.
Spiral tibial shaft fractures are termed toddler's fracture in those just learning to walk.
The most common fracture of the talus is in the neck, which occurs from forced dorsiflexion. This injury is often complicated by AVN.
Lisfranc fracture occurs at the base of the second metatarsal, where the stability of the midfoot is maintained.
The Jones' fracture is a metatarsal neck fracture distal to the apophysis of the base of the fifth metatarsal.
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The young pelvis has a tremendous amount of cartilage and pliability and can absorb tremendous amounts of energy without resulting in a fracture. Pelvic fractures in children usually require high-energy trauma such as automobiles versus pedestrians, motor vehicle crashes, or significant falls. The violent forces required to cause pelvic fractures often result in multisystem trauma accompanied by visceral organ damage, limb fractures, urogenital injuries. Morbidity and mortality rates following pelvic fractures in children are much better than those seen in adults. The effect of obesity in children has also shown that obese youth are more likely to suffer pelvic injuries if BMI ≥95%.1
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The recognition and stabilization of any accompanying injuries is the most pressing issue surrounding pelvic injuries in the emergency department (ED). Pelvic fractures resulting from high energy are classified depending upon their involvement of either the pelvic ring or the acetabulum. Pelvic ring fractures can be classified as either stable or unstable. Stable injuries include single breaks in the pelvic ring, diastasis of the pubic symphysis, and fractures of the iliac wings. Unstable injuries include those with two breaks of the pelvic ring (Fig. 31-1) or those having a sacroiliac dislocation/fracture along with an associated rami or pubic symphysis fracture. Stable fractures may be successfully managed nonoperatively. Unstable fracture patterns may require external fixation or open reduction/internal fixation to stabilize the bony injury while allowing for better management of associated injuries.
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Fractures of the acetabulum are very rare in children and result from forces transmitted through the femoral head. The acetabulum will usually fracture where the triradiate cartilage meets the pelvis (Fig. 31-2). Like pelvic ring fractures, these injuries are usually associated with high-energy trauma. Any acetabular fracture also associated with a pelvic ring fracture must be considered unstable. Many acetabular ...