Long bone fractures in neonatal intensive care units of Afyonkarahisar: Five-year’s experience

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of long bone fractures and the clinical features related with these fractures diagnosed in neonatal intensive care units (ICUs) within the province of Afyonkarahisar in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The incidence of clavicular fractures was 2.4 in 1000 live births, and the incidence of femoral fractures was 0.32 in 1000 live births at the neonatal ICUs of Afyonkarahisar. RESULTS: The incidence of birth trauma-related femoral fracture was 0.16 in 1000 live births, and the incidence of femoral fractures related with osteopenia of prematurity was 1.08 in 1000 live births. The mean gestational age at delivery was 39 weeks, the mean birth weight was 3.308 grams, and the male/female ratio was 3:2 for newborns with birth trauma-related femoral fractures. The mean gestational age at delivery was 30.4 weeks, the mean birth weight was 1256 grams, and the male/female ratio was 2:3 for newborns who had femoral fractures related with osteopenia of prematurity. Breech presentation was present in three newborns (60%), and cesarean section was the type of delivery in all newborns with birth trauma-related femoral fractures. CONCLUSION: Cesarean delivery does not reduce the risk for birth trauma-associated femoral fractures, and there is a risk for femoral fracture in cases of emergency cesarean performed for malpresentation. In order to overcome osteopenia of prematurity, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D should be supplemented in premature newborns with intrauterine growth retardation and receive long-term total parenteral nutrition.