Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Trauma
Number of Conditions: 2
Pediatric fractures
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Trauma
Symptoms:
pain and swelling at the site of injury; deformity or abnormal positioning of the limb; inability or refusal to move the affected limb; bruising or discoloration; tenderness to touch
Root Cause:
Bone breakage in children caused by trauma, often due to falls, sports injuries, or accidents. Children's bones are more flexible and prone to specific fracture patterns like greenstick or buckle fractures.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, patient history, and imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs if necessary.
Treatment:
Immobilization with casts or splints, reduction of displaced fractures (manual or surgical), and surgical fixation in severe cases (e.g., rods, plates, or screws).
Medications:
Pain management is typically prescribed, including acetaminophen (analgesic) or ibuprofen (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). For severe pain, opioids (e.g., codeine ) may be used for a short duration.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in children, with fractures accounting for 10-25% of all pediatric injuries.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High levels of physical activity, weak bone structure due to nutritional deficiencies (e.g., calcium or vitamin D), certain medical conditions affecting bone strength, and lack of supervision during play or sports.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally excellent with appropriate treatment. Children's bones heal faster than adults, often within weeks.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Malunion, growth disturbances in the growth plate (physeal fractures), and long-term deformities if untreated.
Non-accidental trauma (child abuse)
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Pediatric Emergencies
Sub-category: Trauma
Symptoms:
unexplained or inconsistent injuries; multiple fractures in various stages of healing; bruises in atypical patterns (e.g., shapes of objects); burn marks or scars; behavioral changes such as fearfulness or withdrawal; failure to thrive; injuries that don't match the history provided by caregivers
Root Cause:
Intentional physical harm inflicted on a child, often involving repetitive or severe trauma. This is part of child abuse and neglect, which may include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Careful history taking to identify inconsistencies, physical examination for patterns of injury, and imaging studies to assess the type and age of fractures or injuries. Additional assessments may include consultation with child protection services and psychological evaluation.
Treatment:
Immediate stabilization of physical injuries, ensuring the child's safety by involving child protective services, and comprehensive care including mental health support and social interventions.
Medications:
No specific medications directly treat the abuse. However, medications might be prescribed for pain management (e.g., acetaminophen , ibuprofen ) or treatment of physical injuries (e.g., antibiotics for infected wounds).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Non-accidental trauma is a significant public health concern. Approximately 1 in 7 children experiences abuse annually in the United States, with higher risks in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Parental substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty, mental health disorders in caregivers, lack of social support, and history of abuse in the caregiver's childhood.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable depending on the severity of injuries and psychosocial support. Early intervention improves outcomes, but long-term emotional and physical impacts may persist.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic physical disabilities, psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developmental delays, and in severe cases, fatality.