The Incidence of Pediatric Trampoline Injury: Statistics from a Single Institution / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: Recently, there has been increasing number of trampoline injuries at our pediatric orthopedic clinic and emergency room. Therefore, this study is to analyze the prevalence of the trampoline injuries with emergency room surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 2015 and February 2017, all patients under the age of 15 years, who visited emergency room of a teaching hospital with trauma and referred to the department of orthopedic surgery, was included; the cause of trauma was analyzed. The severity of injury was also evaluated and compared according to the cause of injury. RESULTS: There were a total of 1,807 patients under the age of 15 years who visited our emergency room during the study period. There were a total of 71 trampoline injuries (3.9%). There were 28 patients below the age of 5 years, and among them, 14 minor injury were recorded; 43 patients were over the age of 5 years and with 4 minor, 20 moderate, and 19 severe injuries. In the age between 5 and 15 years, the prevalence of mild injury was lower in trampoline injury compared with those of other sports injuries (9.3% vs. 34.0%) and the prevalence of severe injury was higher in trampoline injury (44.2% vs. 26.3%) (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the incidence of trampoline injury was lower than other country, but it was more severe than injuries from other sports. With increasing incidence of trampoline injuries, parents should be more mindful that trampolines are not safe and stricter supervision may be necessary.

Internal Fixation with a Locking T-Plate for Proximal Humeral Fractures in Patients Aged 65 Years and Older

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of internal fixation with locking T-plates for osteoporotic fractures of the proximal humerus in patients aged 65 years and older. METHODS: From January 2007 through to December 2015, we recruited 47 patients aged 65 years and older with osteoporotic fractures of the proximal humerus. All fractures had been treated using open reduction and internal fixation with a locking T-plate. We classified the fractures in accordance to the Neer classification system; At the final follow-up, the indicators of clinical outcome-the range of motion of the shoulder (flexion, internal rotation, and external rotation) and the presence of postoperative complications-and the indicators of radiographic outcome-the time-to-union and the neck-shaft angle of the proximal humerus-were evaluated. The Paavolainen method was used to grade the level of radiological outcome in the patients. RESULTS: The mean flexion was 155.0° (range, 90°–180°), the mean internal rotation was T8 (range, T6–L2), and the mean external rotation was 66.8° (range, 30°–80°). Postoperative complications, such as plate impingement, screw loosening, and varus malunion were observed in five patient. We found that all patients achieved bone union, and the mean time-to-union was 13.5 weeks of the treatment. The mean neck-shaft angle was 131.4° at the 6-month follow-up. According to the Paavolainen method, “good” and “fair” radiographic results each accounted for 38 and 9 of the total patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that locking T-plate fixation leads to satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes in elderly patients with proximal humeral fractures by providing a larger surface area of contact with the fracture and a more rigid fixation.

Internal Fixation with a Locking T-Plate for Proximal Humeral Fractures in Patients Aged 65 Years and Older

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of internal fixation with locking T-plates for osteoporotic fractures of the proximal humerus in patients aged 65 years and older. METHODS: From January 2007 through to December 2015, we recruited 47 patients aged 65 years and older with osteoporotic fractures of the proximal humerus. All fractures had been treated using open reduction and internal fixation with a locking T-plate. We classified the fractures in accordance to the Neer classification system; At the final follow-up, the indicators of clinical outcome-the range of motion of the shoulder (flexion, internal rotation, and external rotation) and the presence of postoperative complications-and the indicators of radiographic outcome-the time-to-union and the neck-shaft angle of the proximal humerus-were evaluated. The Paavolainen method was used to grade the level of radiological outcome in the patients. RESULTS: The mean flexion was 155.0° (range, 90°–180°), the mean internal rotation was T8 (range, T6–L2), and the mean external rotation was 66.8° (range, 30°–80°). Postoperative complications, such as plate impingement, screw loosening, and varus malunion were observed in five patient. We found that all patients achieved bone union, and the mean time-to-union was 13.5 weeks of the treatment. The mean neck-shaft angle was 131.4° at the 6-month follow-up. According to the Paavolainen method, “good” and “fair” radiographic results each accounted for 38 and 9 of the total patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that locking T-plate fixation leads to satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes in elderly patients with proximal humeral fractures by providing a larger surface area of contact with the fracture and a more rigid fixation.