Childhood fractures in Bergen, Norway: identifying high-risk groups and activities

Abstract

In 1998 the authors conducted a prospective registration of children younger than 16 presenting with a new traumatic fracture in the city of Bergen, Norway. In this epidemiologic study, the authors registered a total of 1.725 fractures in children; the fracture incidence was 245 per 10,000 children below the age of 16. One fifth needed reduction, and the distal radius was the most common fracture site (27%). Activities associated with fracture were mostly soccer and bicycling, but compared with the total number of injuries associated with each activity, we found a doubled risk of fractures during rollerblading/skating or snowboarding (60%) compared with playing soccer (38%) or bicycling (33%). Scaphoid fracture, an infrequent fracture in children, was seen in 9% of all fractures due to rollerblading/skating. There was a doubled risk of fracture in boys aged 13 to 15 compared with their female peers. To make fracture prevention more efficient, it should be targeted at this risk group and these high-risk activities. Protection of the wrist region might prevent the most common fractures.