Comprehensive Analysis of Pediatric Supracondylar Fractures in the Emergency Department; A Single Center Experience

OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic characteristics and to assess possible risk factors related to the moment of presentation at Emergency Department (ED) for pediatric humeral supracondylar fractures. METHODS: This was cross-sectional study being conducted during 5-year period from 2013 to 2017 at ED of a regional hospital in Spain. We have included all the pediatric patients (<14 years) with supracondylar fractures referring to our center during the study period. The demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics of the patients were recorded. The outcome and treatment strategies were also recorded. The risk factors of the pediatric supracondylar fracture was also assessed in our series. RESULTS: We have included 52 pediatric patients with supracondylar fractures in this series. The mean age was 7.48 ± 2.97 years with a minimum age of 2 years and a maximum of 14 years. Among the patients there were 32 (61.54%) male and 20 (38.46%) female. Age less than 7 years found to be a protective factor against unstable fractures [OR 0.33 (0.10 - 1.02)]. Fractures presented during daytime hours showed a greater instability [OR 3.49 (1.07-11.39)]. However, the risk of presentation at nighttime was higher during the summer months (June to September). CONCLUSION: The older is the child, the greater is the risk of suffering an unstable fracture, which increases the need for surgery. This risk is greater during the daytime. Otherwise, during the summer months, there is a higher risk of patient presentation at nighttime.