Fractures in children and adolescents with spina bifida: the experience of a Portuguese tertiary‐care hospital

Aim  The morbidity associated with osteoporosis and fractures in children and adolescents with spina bifida highlights the importance of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence and pattern of bone fractures in paediatric patients w...

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Published in:Developmental medicine and child neurology 2010-08, Vol.52 (8), p.754-759
Main Authors: MARREIROS, HUMBERTO, MONTEIRO, LUÍSA, LOFF, CLARA, CALADO, EULÁLIA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescents
Assistive Technology
Child
Child, Preschool
Congenital Impairments
Female
Females
Fractures, Bone - diagnosis
Fractures, Bone - epidemiology
Hospitals
Hospitals - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infant
Injuries
Male
Males
Maximum Likelihood Statistics
Motor Reactions
Neurology
Patients
Portugal - epidemiology
Prevalence
Records (Forms)
Regression (Statistics)
Severity of Illness Index
Spinal Dysraphism - epidemiology
Statistical Significance
Trauma
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Summary:Aim  The morbidity associated with osteoporosis and fractures in children and adolescents with spina bifida highlights the importance of osteoporosis prevention and treatment in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence and pattern of bone fractures in paediatric patients with spina bifida. Method  We reviewed the data of all paediatric patients with spina bifida who were treated in our centre between 1999 and 2008. Results  One hundred and thirteen patients were included in the study (63 females, 50 males; mean age 10y 8mo, SD 4y 10mo, range 6mo–18y). The motor levels were thoracic in six, upper lumbar in 22, lower lumbar in 42, and sacral in 43 patients. Of the 113 patients, 58 (51.3%) had shunted hydrocephalus. Thirty‐six (31.8%) were non‐ambulatory (wheelchair–dependent [unable to self‐propel wheelchair] n=3, wheelchair‐independent [able to self‐propel wheelchair] n=33), 13 were partial ambulators, 61 were full ambulators, and three were below the age of walking. Forty‐five fractures were reported in 25 patients. The distal femur was the most common fracture site. Statistical analyses showed that patients with higher levels of involvement and in wheelchairs had a significantly increased risk of having a second fracture (p
ISSN:0012-1622
1469-8749
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2010.03658.x