Abstract
Background: It remains unclear whether pediatric trauma, including fracture, occurs more frequently at a certain time of the year. We developed a database based on the University of New Mexico orthopaedics consult log (OCL) with the aim of determining whether pediatric fractures have a seasonal predilection.
Methods: The OCL for 2009 and 2010, representing a total of 2385 patient visits, was reviewed, and data on patients who were 17 years of age or younger who were treated for trauma were collected. The months and seasons of the year in which the trauma occurred were recorded.
Results: The OCL for 2009 and 2010 contained a total of 1927 pediatric patient visits for trauma, including 1479 visits (77%) for fracture. The number of fractures was substantially higher during July, August, September, and October compared with each of the other 8 months of the year. The percentage of total injuries that were fractures remained between 70% and 83% throughout the year. Twelve percent of all fractures occurred in winter, 15% in spring, 37% in summer, and 36% in fall. The difference between summer and fall was not significant.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate the existence of a pediatric orthopaedic trauma season. Specifically, fractures are most likely to occur in children from mid-summer to early fall.
Recommended Citation
Boswell, Ava A.; Seth B. McCord; Cole L. Paffett; and Anthony Kallur. "The Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma Season: Does It Exist?." UNM Orthopaedic Research Journal 4, 1 (2015). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/unm_jor/vol4/iss1/16
