Article Title
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic activity restrictions on pediatric supracondylar humerus fracture epidemiology in terms of both mechanism of injury and fracture patterns.
Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of all patients presenting with types II-IV supracondylar humerus fractures between March 15th and June 30th 2020 at the McMaster University Medical Centre. Data were collected from our secure electronic medical records for information on patient demographic data, mechanism of injury, operative reports and imaging. 5 treating surgeons independently analyzed each patient’s radiographs and classified them according to Gartland’s classification.
Results: A total of 40 patients were included in this study with a mean age of 5.7 years (SD=2.1 years). Fourteen (35%) of the patients included were female, and 19 (48%) were left elbow injuries. Of the 40 fractures included, 5 (13%) were graded as 2A, 15 (38%) were graded as 2B, 18 (45%) as grade 3, and 2 (5%) as flexion type. The most common mechanism of injury of patients included in this study was falling off furniture (including chairs, couches and beds) within the house, with 9 injuries (23%).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the epidemiology of supracondylar humerus fractures during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study demonstrated a high rate of serious fracture patterns with the presence of medial comminution. The mechanism of injury differs from the published literature with most fractures occurring in an indoor as opposed to outdoor setting.
Recommended Citation
Cohen, Dan; Jeffrey Kay; Mohammed Shehab; Darren de SA; Devin C. Peterson; and Waleed Kishta. "Pediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures: Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Injury During the COVID-19 Pandemic." Western Journal of Orthopaedics 11, 1 (2022). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/wjo/vol11/iss1/29