Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients (≤16 years) with hip fractures treated between 2011 and 2022 at a hospital in Medellín, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: Hip fractures in children are rare and require timely diagnosis and treatment to reduce the risk of long-term complications. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is the most common and most feared complication due to the resulting functional impairment. Information on this type of fracture in the Colombian pediatric population is scarce.

Objective: To describe the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients (≤16 years old) with hip fractures treated at a quaternary care hospital in Medellín, Colombia.

Methodology: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study of 71 pediatric patients (≤16 years old) with hip fractures treated at the Hospital Universitario San Vicente Fundación in Medellín between 2011 and 2022. Data on sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected. The Delbet classification was used.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 6.56 years (SD=4.47), 57.75% were male, 67.61% underwent surgery, and 61.97% had a fracture of the left hip. Falls from height were the most common cause of fracture (57.75%), and the most frequent fracture type was Delbet IV (60.56%). Only two patients developed complications: avascular necrosis of the femoral head (1.41%) and failure of fracture fixation (1.41%).

Conclusions: A preference for surgical treatment and a slight predominance of males were observed. Fractures were mainly caused by falls from height, and most of them were classified as Delbet type IV. The complication rate was very low.