Demographic Characteristics of Paediatric Pelvic Fractures: 10-Years' Experience of Single Paediatric Orthopaedics Clinic

Objective: To evaluate the demographic characteristics of paediatric pelvic fractures.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis of 26 patients who were hospitalized with the diagnosis of paediatric pelvic fracture between 2000 and 2010 was performed. Age, gender, hospitalization time, mechanism of injury, fracture type, associated injuries, haemoglobin level drop in the first 24 hours, management and blood transfusion requirement, injuries time (month) information were gathered from hospital records.

Results: There were 16 male and 10 female patients. Average age was 10.5 (2-16). Average hospitalization time was 3.5 days (1-17). Average haemoglobin level drop in the first 24 hours was 1.51 (0.3-3.6) gr/dL. Mechanisms of the injuries were as following; 14 patients were struck by a car, 10 patients fell from height and 2 patients involved in a vehicle traffic accident. According to the classification of Torode and Zeig; there was 1 type 2, 22 type 3 and 3 type 4 injuries. Injuries' occurrence season were; 12 in spring, 7 in summer and 7 in autumn. All of the patients had been managed conservatively.

Conclusion: These injuries are rarely seen in children. Their management can be mostly conservative and even with a simple and stable pelvic injury marked bleeding can occur.