Bone fractures heal differently in children

Child bones heal after a break unlike adults

07/31/2012

The treatment of bone fractures in children, requires consideration of the special conditions of child bone growth, explains the German Society of Pediatric Surgery (DGKCH) in a recent release. This is the only way to avoid bones that have grown together incorrectly and possible disabilities, according to the experts.

In unrecognized or incorrectly treated fractures threaten the children, according to the DGKCH President, Professor Dr. med. Jörg Fuchs, permanent damage and movement impairments. Therefore, if a bone fracture is required, above all a qualified treatment by a pediatric surgeon, according to the DGKCH.

Special requirements for bone fractures of children
Generally speaking, the treatment of bone fractures in children requires some expertise, even though childhood bones generally heal faster than those of adults, reports the German Society for Pediatric Surgery. The „Fractures in children differ fundamentally from bone fractures of the adult skeletal system in diagnosis and therapy“, said Professor Fuchs, President of the DGKCH and Director of the Pediatric Surgery University Hospital in Tübingen. According to the expert, the special requirements already begin when collecting the findings. According to Professor Fuchs, the „Small patients often do not tell us exactly where it hurts.“ Therefore, the evaluation of the X-ray findings has a special meaning here. However, the interpretation of the X-ray images requires much experience in order not to overlook or misjudge hairline cracks, misalignments and shifts in growing bones, explained the DGKCH President.

Treatment requires prognosis of bone growth
If the fractures are not properly diagnosed and treated, „Serious consequences threaten: The fracture heals worse, bones grow together incorrectly - after all, the children sometimes can no longer move the affected limbs fully“, according to the DGKCH communication. Often the fractures in early childhood grow together without complications and sometimes the same body spontaneous corrections even possible misalignments, but this can also run according to the experts also different. Therefore, physicians need to know the growth processes and the various therapies well in order to heal childbone fractures, explained the DGKCH. In the choice of therapy, the doctor must also include the expected bone growth. Accordingly, it is „A correct growth prognosis of the respective fracture by the pediatric surgeon is essential for optimal therapy“, so Professor Fuchs. According to the expert, depending on the location and type of fracture, age, sex and stage of development of the patient, differential healing of the fracture is to be expected.

43,000 in-patient leg and arm fractures per year
About 43,000 children between the ages of zero and 15 years are hospitalized annually in Germany because of a fracture of the arm or leg. Almost half of the fractures were fractures of the forearm, followed by shoulder and upper arm fractures. „Due to their protective function, for example when falling on the outstretched hand, the upper and lower arms are most frequently affected“, explained DGKCH President. To cure certain parts of the body after a fracture requires considerable expertise from the doctor, continues Prof. Fuchs. As an example, the DGKCH calls fractures in the elbow area, since here the growth joints of the joint, which are responsible for the length growth of the bone, stop growing early. Therefore same „The body here possible misalignments only to a small extent“, explained the pediatric surgeon and bone expert dr. med. Justus Lieber from the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology of the University Children's Hospital Tübingen. Thus, it is hardly surprising that fractures of the elbow joint, according to the DGKCH report with 77 percent complications have the highest error rate in the treatments.

Ideal therapy of fractures takes into account the urge to move
When treating bone fractures in children, physicians should ideally discuss with parents and, if possible, with the child, which therapy is the most appropriate, explained DGKCH President. „We clarify individually to what extent the therapies in question are reasonable for each individual child“, so Professor Fuchs. In any case, the therapy must be able to cope with the natural urge to move of the small patients and should not restrict them unnecessarily. In conclusion, the expert noted that, „Even though child traumatology centers offer very good treatment options, every accident means one accident too many“ be. In his opinion, numerous accidents could be avoided if traffic rules were adhered to, protectors and helmets worn and only TÜV-tested toys were used. (Fp)

Also read about bone fractures:
Most fractures happen in January

Picture credits: Rudolf Ortner