FRACTURE OF THE HUMERUS IN CHILDREN – CAUSES AND MECHANISMS OF INJURY

Autori:

Anko Antabak, Matej Andabak, Branimir Barišić, Dino Papeš, Ivan Romić, Nino Fuchs, Tomislav Luetić

Sažetak

Zbog hiperaktivnosti djeca su često izložena ozljedama nadlaktice, a prijelomi nadlaktične kosti i nakon operativnog liječenja mogu ostaviti trajne posljedice. Visoka pojavnost prijeloma opravdava propitivanje o mogućoj prevenciji nastanka. Preventivna postupanja moguća su jedino uz poznavanje uzroka i okolnosti nastanka prijeloma. Cilj je ovog rada analizirati okolnosti nastanka, kritična mjesta i aktivnosti djece pri prijelomu nadlaktične kosti prema dobnim skupinama. U radu je analizirano 102-je djece liječene u KBC-u Zagreb zbog prijeloma nadlaktične kosti, u periodu od 2010. do 2014. U studiji je analizirano 45 djevojčica (44%) i 57 dječaka (56%). Prosječna dob djece iznosila je 8,3 godine. Prijelomi ­distalne trećine nadlaktične kosti čine 4/5 svih analiziranih prijeloma. Nešto je češće bila zahvaćena desna ruka. Gotovo 80% prijeloma bilo je nestabilno i oni su redovito nalagali operacijsko liječenje. Najviše ozlijeđenih bilo je u dobi od 5 do 9 godina. Najčešće su se ozljede događale na rekreacijskome mjestu (47%), zatim kod kuće (31%), na ulici ili cesti (15%) te u školi ili vrtiću (7%). Način nastanka ozljede uglavnom je pad na ruku (94%), a ostatak ozljeda posljedica je izravnog udarca. Gotovo polovina djece ozlijedila se u sportskim ili rekreacijskim aktivnostima. Daleko najčešće stradaju djeca u predškolskoj i ranoj školskoj dobi u igri i kontaktu s drugom djecom slične dobi. Kako bi se smanjila učestalost ovakvih ozljeda, preventivne aktivnosti treba usmjeriti prema najugroženijoj dobnoj skupini (5 – 9 godina) kod dnevnih aktivnosti pod nadzorom roditelja, ali i povećati nadzor u predškolskim i školskim ustanovama. Od svih aktivnosti najopasniji za nastanak prijeloma nadlaktične kosti jesu sportska igrališta i mjesta rekreativnih aktivnosti predškolske djece i djece u nižim razredima osnovne škole.

Summary

Due to hyperactivity, children are often exposed to injuries of the upper arm and fractures of the humerus can leave permanent damage even after the surgical treatment. The high incidence of fractures justifies questioning the possible prevention of this injury. Preventive actions are possible only with the knowledge of the causes and circumstances of the fracture. Aim is to analyze the circumstances of the injury, critical places and activities engaged in at the time of the ­humeral fracture by age groups. The paper analyzed 102 children that were treated at the University Hospital Centre in Zagreb due to fractures of the humerus in the period from 2010 to 2014. In this study, we analyzed 45 girls (44%) and 57 boys (56%). The average age of children was 8.3 years. Fractures of the distal third of the humerus accounted for 4/5 of all analyzed ­fractures. The right hand was affected more frequently. Nearly 80% of fractures were unstable, which generally require ­surgical treatment. The injury occurred most often among the 5-9 year-olds. Most injuries took place at the recreational facilities (47%), followed by injuries at home (31%), on streets or roads (15%) and at school or kindergarten (7%). Mechanism of the injury was mainly a fall onto the arm (94%) and the rest of the injuries were due to a direct blow. Almost half of the children got injured in sports or recreational activities. Due to close physical contact and engagement in games, children in preschool and early school age are by far the most susceptible to injuries. To reduce the incidence of such injuries, preventive actions should be taken during daily activities under the supervision of parents towards the most vulnerable age group (5-9 years), along with increasing the supervision in preschools and schools. Of all the activities, the most ­dangerous to cause fractures of the humerus occur in sports grounds and recreational facilities of preschool children and children in the lower grades of elementary school.