Long bone fracture characteristics in children with medical conditions linked to bone health

Abstract Background Knowledge of fracture characteristics among children with medical conditions affecting bone could help to distinguish medical causes from child abuse. Objective Characterize long bone fracture morphology among children diagnosed with medical conditions linked to bone health. Participants and setting Patients Methods This retrospective medical record review categorized underlying medical diagnoses as: metabolic bone disease, genetic disorder of connective tissue, neurologic disorder and other chronic disease. A pediatric radiologist reviewed plain films to determine fracture type and location. Descriptive statistics, as well as logistic regression were used to compare fracture types by clinical characteristics. Results Ninety-four patients were included and their diagnoses were genetic connective disorder (19; 20.2 %), metabolic bone disease (16; 17.0 %), neurologic disorder (27; 28.7 %), and other (32; 34.0 %). A total of 216 long bone fractures were sustained; 52.1 % of children had >1 long bone fracture. Of the 216 fractures, 55 (25.5 %) were in children Conclusions Diseases affecting bone health can influence fracture morphology. Transverse fractures were most common in bones impacted by disease.